DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

David Flees to The Wilderness of Ziph, The Wilderness of Moan, and En-gedi

I Samuel 23:14-29

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    CAVES AND WOODS (I Sam. 23:14-15)                            SAFE

ii.                  COMFORT AND COVENANT (I Sam. 23:16-18)              STRENGTHENED

iii.                CONSPIRE AND VERIFY (I Sam. 23:19-24)                                   SOLDOUT

iv.                CONFINED AND PROVIDENCE (I Sam. 23:25-29)                      SAVED

 

2.      Where did David abide while in the wilderness? (I Sam. 23:14)

 

And David abode in the wilderness in strongholds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph…

 

A.    In the wilderness in strongholds

 

B.      Stronghold

1.      Strong (4679):  it comes from a word that means “to lie alongside.”  Strong simply says that is means fastness (a secured or fortified place)

2.      BDB:  a fort, mountain, fastness

 

C.     Ziph:  “battlement,” a city in southern Judah

 

 

3.      How often did Saul seek David? (I Sam. 23:14)

 

…And Saul sought him every day…

 

A.    Every day

 

B.      Saul was relentless in his search for David. 

 

C.     David probably had spies in the area who constantly watched the movement of Saul’s troops.

 

4.      T – F    God delivered David into the hand of Saul (I Sam. 23:14)

…but God delivered him not into his hand.

 

A.    False

 

B.      Lessons:

1.      God is aware of the movements of our enemies.

2.      God is able to deliver us from our enemies.  This reminds me of a song we sing:  “He is able; He is able to deliver thee.”

 

5.      What was Saul’s only purpose in seeking David? (I Sam. 23:15)

 

And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life…

 

A.    He sought David’s life.

 

B.      There are men who are bounty hunters who seek individuals in order to obtain the reward offered for criminals.  NOTE: Saul did not seek David for money.  He sought him out of envy and for revenge.

 

C.     Can you imagine hating a person so much that every day you sought his life?

 

6.      What did Jonathan do when he came to David in the wood? (I Sam. 23:16)

 

And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

 

A.    Strengthened his hand in God

 

B.      Strengthened

1.      Strong (2388):  be strong, help, cure, repair, fortify

2.      BDB:  to strengthen, restore to strength, make strong, make courageous, to fortify, make hard, make firm

 

C.     There is an indication that David could have been struggling a little at this time. 

1.      If Jonathan strengthened him, he may have been discouraged, somewhat fearful, and concerned about his wellbeing.

2.      LESSON:  It is good to have a dear friend who is willing to sacrifice some time to come and take us by the hand and lift us up as Jonathan did David.

 

7.      T – F    Jonathan was fearful that Saul would find David. (I Sam. 23:17)

 

And he said unto him, Fear not:  for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee…

 

A.    False

 

B.      Jonathan continues to manifest a deep trust in God.

Jonathan manifests humility.

Jonathan manifests brotherly love.

Jonathan manifests a willingness to sacrifice.

Jonathan manifests a willingness to take risks.

 

8.      Who did Jonathan believe would be the next king? (I Sam. 23:17)

 

…and thou shalt be king over Israel…

 

A.    He believed David would be king.

 

B.      It appears that the experiences David was going through and the providential hand of God that Jonathan saw upon David convinced him of the truth.

 

9.      Who did Jonathan say would sit next to him? (I Sam. 23:17)

 

…and I shall be next unto thee; and that my father knoweth.

 

A.    Jonathan said that he would sit next to David.

 

B.      He also declares that his father knew this.

1.      Jonathan, the son of Saul, was a friend of David.  This angered Saul.

2.      David would be king instead of Saul’s son.  This angered Saul.

3.      David would be king with Jonathan willingly at his side.  This angered Saul.

 

10.  What did Jonathan and David make together? (I Sam. 23:18)

 

And they two made a covenant before the Lord…

 

A.    They made a covenant before the Lord.

 

B.      NOTE:  We are not told the details of this covenant.

 

C.     This was the third covenant they had made together.

1.      First (I Sam. 18:3).

2.      Second (I Sam. 20:16).

3.      Third (I Sam. 23:18)

 

11.  Where did Jonathan go after seeking David? (I Sam. 23:18)

 

…and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

 

A.    Jonathan returned to his house.

 

12.  Who told Saul where David was hiding? (I Sam. 23:19)

 

Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the wood…

 

A.    Ziphites

 

13.  What was the specific location they revealed to Saul (I Sam. 23:19)

 

…in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

 

A.    In the wood, in the hill of Hachilah on the south of Jeshimon.

 

B.      This was a specific location that was revealed.  Saul should have been able to locate and find David very quickly with this information.

 

14.  T – F    The Ziphites were willing to deliver David to Saul. (I Sam. 23:20)

 

Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.

 

A.    True

 

B.      The Ziphites were from the tribe of Judah. 

1.      They forsook their kinsman, David, for king Saul.

2.      Divided loyalties are difficult to navigate. 

a.      David was the innocent one.

b.      Saul was still the king.

 

15.  “And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord; for ye have compassion on me” (I Sam. 23:21)

 

A.    Other than Doeg, this is the first ounce of respect that Saul has received from individuals in his nation.

 

B.      He was extremely grateful for their loyalty.  Thus, he blesses them.

 

16.  Why did Saul want the Ziphites to go back and know and see “where his haunt is”? (I Sam. 23:22)

 

Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there:  for it is told me that he dealeth very subtlely.

 

A.    He had been told that David “dealeth very subtlely.

 

17.  Define:  subtlely

 

A.    Strong (6191):  to be cunning (usually in an evil way)

 

B.      BDB:  shrewd, crafty, prudent

 

C.     All of David’s years as a captain in the military had given him much experience in how to thwart an enemy.

1.      Diversion was a possibility.

2.      Quick maneuvers were part of his training.

 

D.    Saul knew that he could expend a lot of time, money, and energy with the information he had received, yet not capture David. 

 

18.  T – F    Saul wanted the Ziphites to return with certainty.  (I Sam. 23:23)

 

See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come to me with certainty…

 

A.    True

 

B.      Certainty

1.      Strong (3559):  be erect, establish, fix, render sure

2.      BDB:  to be firm, be established, be fixed, be securely determined

 

C.     LESSON:  Certainty is a good thing, especially when a person is waging a war.  Uncertainty can be very costly.

 

19.  If they truly knew were David was hiding, what would Saul do? (I Sam. 23:23)

 

…and I will go with you:  and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

 

A.    Saul said that he would search David out, if he knew certainly that David was in Judah.

 

B.      His intensity is still seen in his words.  “I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.”

 

20.  T – F    The Ziphites found David. (I Sam. 23:24)

 

And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

 

A.    The answer to this question could be T or F.

1.      David and his men were no longer in the strongholds in the wood.  Thus, they would not have found him in his previous spot.

2.      Notice the opening words of verse 25.  “Saul also and his men went to seek him.”  Saul would only do this if he knew certainly David was still in that area.  The Ziphites may have located David again and sent word to Saul.

 

21.  Where did David go from Ziph? (I Sam. 23:24)

 

…but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

 

A.    The wilderness of Maoh.

1.      This was located about 2 hours south of Ziph.

2.      It was in the Arabah, the arid desert land of the south part of Judah.

 

22.  T – F    Saul pursued David to Maon. (I Sam. 23:25)

 

Saul also and his men went to seek him.  And they told David:  wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon.  And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

 

A.    True

 

23.  T – F    Saul and David eventually came to the same mountain (I Sam. 23:26)

 

And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain:  and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul..

 

A.    The information the Ziphites gave Saul was very good.

 

B.      Saul and his army were extremely close to David.  They were on either side of the mountain from each other.  In the quiet of the night or morning, they might have been able to hear one another’s movements.

 

24.  “…for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them” (I Sam. 23:26).

 

A.    This is the first positive move Saul has made to capture David since his flight began.

 

B.      It appears that this will be the defining moment.  Saul’s troops were probably much larger in number than David’s.

 

25.  What came to Saul as he was about to overcome David? (I Sam. 23:27)

 

But there came a messenger unto Saul…

 

A.    A messenger

 

26.  What message was told to Saul? (I Sam. 23:27)

 

…saying, Haste thee, and come:  for the Philistines have invaded the land.

 

A.    He was told that the Philistines were invading Israel.

 

B.      Three points:

1.      Can you imagine the frustration on the part of Saul?

2.      Can you imagine the relief on the part of David?

3.      This is providence at work.

a.      God provided salvation for David.

b.      He did it through natural means.

c.       It was not miraculous, nor did God override the free-will of man.

1)      The Philistines chose to invade the land at this time.

2)      Saul had to make a choice about how he would respond to the invasion.

 

27.  T – F    Saul continued to pursue David. (I Sam. 23:28)

 

Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines…

 

A.    False

 

28.  What was the name of that place called? (I Sam. 23:28)

 

…therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

 

A.    Sela-hammahlekoth

 

B.      Two interpretations:

1.      Clarke:  rock of division because Saul was divided as to what to do.  Should he continue to seek David?  Or, should he fight against the Philistines.

2.      K&D:  rock of smoothness, indicating the smooth escape David made from Saul.  There was no fight and no casualties.

 

29.  Where did David flee after Maon? (I Sam. 23:29)

 

And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strongholds in En-gedi.

 

A.    Strongholds in En-gedi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

David Spares Saul at a Cave in En-gedi

I Samuel 24:1-12

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.       Outline

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 24:1-3

ii.                  I SAMUEL 24:4

iii.                I SAMUEL 24:5-7a

iv.                I SAMUEL 24:7b

v.                  I SAMUEL 24:8-12

 

2.      What was told to Saul after his battle with the Philistines? (I Sam. 24:1)

 

3.      How many men did Saul take with him to seek David? (I Sam. 24:2).

 

4.      Where did they seek David? (I Sam. 24:2)

 

5.      Why did Saul enter into a caved? (I Sam. 24:3)

 

6.      Who was in the cave also? (I Sam. 24:3)

 

7.      Who said to David:  “Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand…”? (I Sam. 24:4).

 

8.      What did David do to Saul? (I Sam. 24:4)

 

9.      What happened to David after he had cut off Saul’s skirt? (I Sam. 24:5)

 

10.  Why did David think it was wrong to commit the act that he did? (I Sam. 24:6)

 

11.  “So David ________________ his servants with these words, and suffered them not to _________ against Saul” (I Sam. 24:7).

 

12.  After he slept, what did Saul do? (I Sam. 24:7)

 

13.  When David left the cave, what were his first words to Saul? (I Sam. 24:8)

 

14.  What action did David perform when Saul turned to see who was behind him? (I Sam. 24:8)

 

15.  Who did David say Saul had been listening to concerning David’s wanting to hurt Saul? (I Sam. 24:9)

 

16.  In the first half of I Samuel 24:10, David mentions three people who were involved in the previous night’s activities (I Sam. 24:10a).  What did each one do?

 

A.    The Lord

 

B.      Some

 

C.     David

 

17.  “…and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my ___________; for he is the Lord’s _______________” (I Sam. 24:10).

 

18.  What did David ask Saul to see in his hand? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

19.  What could David have done to Saul? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

20.  What two things were not in David’s hand? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

21.  “…and I have not __________________ against thee” (I Sam. 24:11).

 

22.  Even though David had nothing against Saul, what was Saul doing to David? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

23.  What two things did David say the Lord would do between Saul and David? (I Sam. 24:11)

 

24.  T- F      David pledged that the next time they met, he would kill Saul. (I Sam. 24:12)