David Hides in the Wilderness
1 Samuel 23:13-29 NLT
David Hides in the Wilderness
13 So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all. 14 David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.
15 One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. 16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” 18 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.
19 But now the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. “We know where David is hiding,” they said. “He is in the strongholds of Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is in the southern part of Jeshimon. 20 Come down whenever you’re ready, O king, and we will catch him and hand him over to you!”
21 “The Lord bless you,” Saul said. “At last someone is concerned about me! 22 Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him there, for I know that he is very crafty. 23 Discover his hiding places, and come back when you are sure. Then I’ll go with you. And if he is in the area at all, I’ll track him down, even if I have to search every hiding place in Judah!” 24 So the men of Ziph returned home ahead of Saul.
Meanwhile, David and his men had moved into the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah Valley south of Jeshimon. 25 When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock, and he remained there in the wilderness of Maon. But Saul kept after him in the wilderness.
26 Saul and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain. Just as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men, 27 an urgent message reached Saul that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. 28 So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape. 29 David then went to live in the strongholds of En-gedi.
Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 23:13-29 NLT
David Hides in the Wilderness
13 So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside.
Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all.
Review:
Saul had informants.
Saul did not show any concern for the people living in Keilah. He only wanted to capture and kill David.
The number of David’s men stayed at 600.
Bible scholars think that David was on the run from Saul for a period of 7 to 10 years.
14 David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph.
- Strongholds, as the term is used here, were not man-made structures but were natural formations that provided refuge.
Strongholds were places that were not easily accessible. Good places to hide.
Ziph was about 5 miles southeast of Hebron or 12 miles southeast of Keilah.
A desolate, hilly, wilderness area and in some places a wooded area.
See verse 16 NKJV
Many ravines and caves are found in this rugged region which provided David with places of refuge from Saul.
Picture two mountains side by side. Both mountains reveal rocks, trees, ravines, and the openings to numerous caves. Paths are winding down the sides of each of the mountains. You can easily see from one mountain to the other, but it would take a long time to travel from one of these mountains to the other.
Psalm 63 NLT
A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.…
Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.
- God protected David from King Saul.
This is a clear picture of God’s sovereignty ay work.
God’s sovereignty is jumping off the pages of scripture.
Isaiah 46:9-11 NLT
9 Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
and I will do it.
- As we hear the story of David fleeing from Saul, we repeatedly see a picture of God’s sovereignty at work.
15 One day near Horesh,
Horesh was located in the wilderness of Ziph.
David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.
Again David had informants telling him that Saul was approaching with soldiers.
16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
1 Samuel 23:16 NKJV
16 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and (encouraged him) strengthened his hand in God.
Jonathan was able to find David. His father King Saul was not able to find David.
David’s last recorded meeting with Jonathan.
Jonathan meets with David in the wilderness of Ziph for a final, brief encounter between the two men.
- Jonathan met with David to encourage him to remain strong in his faith in God.
17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you!
David’s situation looks bleak, but Jonathan somehow knows that God will protect David from King Saul.
You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”
Jonathan recognized God’s selection of David and tells David that David is going to be the king of Israel, and he would willingly serve David. Jonathan also says that his father Saul is well aware of the fact that David is meant to be the next king.
Saul speaking to Jonathan:
1 Samuel 20:31 NLT
31 As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!”
18 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.
Jonathan and David renew their solemn pact before the Lord.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 NLT
18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
At the time when David and Jonathan parted company.
1 Samuel 20:42 NLT
42 At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.
- David and Jonathan parted company, reminding themselves of the commitments they had made to each other and to their descendants.
19 But now the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. “We know where David is hiding,” they said. “He is in the strongholds of Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is in the southern part of Jeshimon.
Jeshimon, translated wasteland, is another name for the wilderness of Judea.
- The Ziphites, who were Judahites, betrayed David to Saul.
Previously the people of Keilah, located in Judah, were also willing to betray David.
20 Come down whenever you’re ready, O king, and we will catch him and hand him over to you!”
Psalm 54 NLT (David’s thoughts and prayers.)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “We know where David is hiding.” To be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!
Defend me with your might.
2 Listen to my prayer, O God.
Pay attention to my plea.
3 For strangers are attacking me;
violent people are trying to kill me.
They care nothing for God. Interlude
4 But God is my helper.
The Lord keeps me alive!
5 May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.
Do as you promised and put an end to them.
6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
7 For you have rescued me from my troubles
and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
21 “The Lord bless you,” Saul said. “At last someone is concerned about me! 22 Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him there, for I know that he is very crafty. 23 Discover his hiding places, and come back when you are sure. Then I’ll go with you. And if he is in the area at all, I’ll track him down, even if I have to search every hiding place in Judah!” 24 So the men of Ziph returned home ahead of Saul.
- Saul was relying on the counsel and support of other men.
David has been inquiring of the Lord (v.2, 4, 10-11, 12,
Meanwhile, David and his men had moved into the wilderness of Moan in the Arabah Valley south of Jeshimon.
David moves to the wilderness of Moan, about 5 miles south of Ziph.
Another barren territory.
25 When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him,
Again, David had informants telling him that Saul was approaching with soldiers.
he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock,
A landmark.
and he remained there in the wilderness of Maon.
But Saul kept after him in the wilderness.
26 Saul and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain.
Just as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men,
Saul and his men were about to close in on David and his men.
27 an urgent message reached Saul that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. 28 So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines.
- Saul had no choice but to withdraw and postpone his pursuit of David. (More of God’s sovereignty at work.)
Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape.
The timely retreat of Saul’s men led to this name.
29 David then went to live in the strongholds of En-gedi.
An oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. The location of a freshwater spring and lush vineyards, as well as numerous caves which provided good hiding places for David.
Song of Solomon 1:14 NLT
14 He is like a bouquet of sweet henna blossoms
from the vineyards of En-gedi.
