19 And the Ziphites go up unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, 'Is not David hiding himself with us in fortresses, in the forest, in the height of Hachilah, which 'is' on the south of the desolate place? 20 And, now, by all the desire of thy soul, O king, to come down, come down, and ours 'is' to shut him up into the hand of the king.' 21 And Saul saith, 'Blessed 'are' ye of Jehovah, for ye have pity on me; 22 go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his foot is; who hath seen him there? for 'one' hath said unto me, He is very subtile. 23 And see and know of all the hiding-places where he hideth himself, and ye have turned back unto me prepared, and I have gone with you, and it hath been, if he is in the land, that I have searched him out through all the thousands of Judah.' 24 And they rise and go to Ziph before Saul, and David and his men 'are' in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain, at the south of the desolate place. 25 And Saul and his men go to seek, and they declare to David, and he goeth down the rock, and abideth in the wilderness of Maon; and Saul heareth, and pursueth after David 'to' the wilderness of Maon. 26 And Saul goeth on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain, and David is hastened to go from the face of Saul, and Saul and his men are compassing David and his men, to catch them. 27 And a messenger hath come in unto Saul, saying, 'Haste, and come, for the Philistines have pushed against the land.' 28 And Saul turneth back from pursuing after David, and goeth to meet the Philistines, therefore they have called that place 'The Rock of Divisions.' 29 And David goeth up thence, and abideth in fortresses 'at' En-gedi.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:19-29

Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:19-29

(Read 1 Samuel 23:19-29)

In the midst of his wickedness, Saul affected to speak the language of piety. Such expressions, without suitable effects, can only amuse or deceive those who hear, and those who use them. This mountain was an emblem of the Divine Providence coming between David and the destroyer. Let us not be dismayed at the prospect of future difficulties, but stay ourselves upon Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. Sooner than his promise shall fail, he will commission Philistines to effect our escape, at the very moment when our case appears most desperate. God requires entire dependence on him, If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established, Isaiah 7:9.