As king, Saul’s primary job was to protect his people against foreign raiders, but he was so busy trying to kill David he didn’t have time to take care of business. When David learned of Philistine raids, he asked God what he should do about them, in I Samuel 23:1-2. “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
David’s men were concerned about getting caught between the
Philistines and Saul’s army, so David asked the Lord again to make sure he was
doing the right thing, in I Samuel 23:3-5.
“And David's men said unto him,
Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah
against the armies of the Philistines? Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And
the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver
the Philistines into thine hand. So
David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought
away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the
inhabitants of Keilah.”
David had done what was Saul’s responsibility, but Saul did
not appreciate it, viewing it as an opportunity to trap David, as I Samuel
23:7-8 describes. “And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God
hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town
that hath gates and bars. And Saul
called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David
and his men.” A complete narcissist,
Saul didn’t care about anyone or anything except getting his own way. Instead of rescuing Keilah from the
Philistines, he was going to attack the city in an effort to kill David.
When Ahimelech’s son Abiathar fled Nob to escape Saul’s
executioner, he had carried the Ephod, part of the High Priest’s garment with
him, as I Samuel 23:6 tells us. “And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son
of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his
hand.” Knowing Saul would not give
up, David asked Abiathar to act as high priest and ask God what Saul would do,
in I Samuel 23:9-12. “And David knew that Saul secretly practiced
mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the
ephod. Then said David, O LORD God of
Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah,
to destroy the city for my sake. Will
the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy
servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And
the LORD said, He will come down. Then
said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?
And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.”
God warned that not only would Saul come against him, but
that because of their fear of Saul and his threats, the people of Keilah would
betray David in an effort to keep Saul from attacking them. David and his men left quickly, seeking a
good and easily defended hiding place.
Upon learning of their departure, Saul turned elsewhere seeking them, as
I Samuel 23:13-14 describes. “Then David and his men, which were about
six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they
could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he
forbare to go forth. And David abode in
the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of
Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.”
Demonically obsessed with killing David, Saul neglected
everything else, but God prevented him from catching David.
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