God Delivers David From Certain Capture

I Samuel 23:19-29

“Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 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.” (I Samuel 23:19-20)

In an effort to ingratiate themselves with Saul, the Ziphites offered to betray David if Saul would bring sufficient forces down to capture him.  They knew exactly where he was in hiding.

“And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.  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 subtly.  See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, 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.” (I Samuel 23:21-23)

Though what Saul was doing was in direct opposition to God, he praised the Ziphites for helping him, claiming God would bless them for their care for him.  When people become so totally self centered, they no longer distinguish between what God wants and their own desires and plans, convincing themselves that they are the same.

“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.  Saul also and his men went to seek him.” (I Samuel 23:24-25a)

 David and his men were constantly moving to prevent attacks.  By the time the Ziphites and Saul were able to put their plan into action, they had relocated to the wildernes of Maon making the plan impossible.  Saul had to start their search again.

“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.  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; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.” (I Samuel 23:25b-26)

Saul’s intelligence got him really close to David.  Finally, they were just on opposite sides of the same mountain.  David began to feel desperate because Saul’s army had been able to cut off their escape routes, and capture seemed certain.

“But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.  Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.” (I Samuel 23:27-28)

Knowing that Saul was down in Judah looking for David, the Philistines seized the opportunity to invade Israel in hopes of being able to catch Saul off guard and defeat him.  Saul received word that he had to come immediately if he wished to remain as king, and was forced to pull his forces away just when David’s capture seemed inevitable.  He had to take the entire army to fight the Philistines, allowing David to escape again.

“And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.” (I Samuel 23:29)

Realizing he had been trapped at Maon, David wasted no time moving to a stronghold at Engedi that would be easier to defend and less likely to serve as a trap.