In 1 Sam 22.1-23 we learn that David flees to the Cave of Adullam (“Refuge”) and he has regained his senses, but his actions and lies will have consequences. David could not go home, to the palace, to Jonathan or even the Mishkan. Some scholars believe that this cave was not too far from where David killed Goliath. David was discouraged and this sentiment can be seen in Psalm 142. But Psalm 57 says that God encouraged him there. Others came to David there, including his family, and this will be the beginning of David’s army and he will be their captain. In this he is like the Messiah because everyone who is in distress and everyone who is in debt and discontented will gather to him, and these are the ones who come to Yeshua (Matt 11.28). He had 400 men and it grew to 600 (1 Sam 23.13).
From there they went to Mizpeh in Moab and asked the king to let his parents stay with him. Remember, they were related to Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 4.18-22). The Prophet Gad, one of Samuel’s students, came to David and told him to leave this stronghold and go to Judah, his home but the stronghold of Saul. This was not what David wanted to hear, but he obeyed. Yehovah was going to use David and not have him wait for the death of Saul. He goes to the forest of Hereth (“forest”).
Saul hears about David and thinks his men are conspiring against him. Saul is sitting under a tamarisk tree in Gibeah with his spear in his hand like a scepter, and it also meant he was going to hurt someone. He doesn’t trust his men because no one told him about the covenant his son made with David and thinks that David is setting an ambush for him. He calls him the “son of Jesse” and not the “man who killed Goliath and 200 Philistines.” e calls him the lowest name he could think of, the son of simple farmers. Then Doeg the Edomite follows Saul’s lead and said he saw “the son of Jesse” at Nob, at the Mishkan. He said Ahimelech inquired of the Lord and gave David provisions.
So Saul sent for Ahimelech the priest and all his father’s household. This would have been the family of Eli, the former high priest. So they came not realizing that they were in trouble. Saul accuses all of them of treason and Ahimelech tells Saul the truth in that he knew nothing of all this. He was not aware of the hatred that Saul had for David, and that is evident by how he treated David in 1 Sam 21. But Saul condemns Ahimelech and the priests without consulting anyone. Saul is descending fast and he doesn’t kill the enemies of God, but he doesn’t bat an eye when it comes to killing God’s people (1 Sam 15.9). In this he is like the False Messiah who will make war on God’s people.
The servants of the king are told to kill to the priests of the Lord, but his servants won’t do it. Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn around and attack the priests.” And Doeg (“fearing”) turned around and and attacked them and killed eighty-five men who wore the ephod (priests). Then he went to Nob and killed and struck the city, killing both men, women, children and infants; also oxen, donkeys, sheep with the sword. Now, there was one son of Ahimelech named Abiathar (“my father is great”) and he escaped the carnage and fled to David and told him that Saul had killed the priests of Yehovah. He was probably left behind at the Mishkan and he came with the Urim and Thummim (1 Sam 23.6). David will tell us how he felt about all this in Psalm 52. The killing of these priests fulfilled 1 Sam 2.27-36 where the Lord said that he was going to cut off the family of Eli from the priesthood, but not all.
David tells Abiathar that when he saw Doeg the Edomite there that day he knew he would tell Saul. David felt responsible for the death of everyone in Abiathar’s family. David’s lies had consequences any way you look at it. But David turned his heart to the Lord and he promised to protect Abiathar. In the birth-pains, the False Messiah will act just like Saul here. He will favor those against Yeshua (David) and persecute and kill those who follow Yeshua and keep the Torah (Rev 12.17). Knowing this, many will escape into the wilderness and be protected by the Lord from the False Messiah who will pursue them like Saul pursues David (Rev 12.1-17).
1 Sam 23.1-29 tells us the story of how David inquired of the Lord to relieve a place called Keilah (“fortress”) who were fighting against the Philistines, probably through Gad (1 Sam 22.5). The Lord was going to use David and that is why he was called out of safety. The Lord gave him permission and it also tells us that Saul found out he was there and tried to trap him there. At that time Abiathar came down with the ephod that had the Urim and Thummim (Exo 28.15; 28.30). Saul falsely interprets David’s presence in Keilah as a sign that God is delivering David into his hand. He thought that he could surround him.
In our experience, some Christians today would think that using the Urim and Thummim was “crude” and “old testament magic.” But it was far superior to what most Christians do. They base what they think and do on “feeling” or outward appearances. They have little discernment. The Urim and Thummim is based on the Word of God because it commanded that it be used.
David rescues Keilah and Saul comes against him. He did not discern God’s will. David has Abiathar and the ephod with the Urim and Thummim, but Saul doesn’t care about losing the priesthood or the true worship of God, and neither will the False Messiah. Saul wouldn’t go to save the people of Keilah from the Philistines, but he will go after David.
So, David escapes because he inquired of the Lord (1 Sam 23.8-11) and he goes into the wilderness of Ziph (“borrowed”) at Horesh (“a forest”). Jonathan came to David from Gibeah and told him not to fear his father. David was going to be king (Samuel and David told him) and he would be second in civil affairs like he was now, and even his father knew. They confirm their previous covenant, but this would be the last time David would ever see Jonathan again.
The Ziphites betray David and tell Saul, and Saul actually blesses them. This is how the unrighteous are, they bless those who are willing to betray an innocent man (1 Sam 23.19-23). Saul goes to Ziph but David had already left and had gone to the wilderness of Maon (“dwelling”) in the Arabah (“desert”) on the western side of the Dead Sea near En-gedi (“springs of the wild goat”). David expresses his feelings about this in Psalm 54.
Saul pursues David there and they end up on the same mountain, separated only by a ridge, and he began to surround David and David was hurrying to get away. But a messenger came to Saul (from heaven?) and drew Saul away because he was told that the Philistines were raiding the land. David realizes that God was with him and a disaster was averted. So they called that place “Sela ha Makloket” meaning “the rock of divisions” and David escaped to En-gedi.
We will pick up here in Part 19.
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