Principle
While staying in the wilderness of Ziph, the local Ziphites told Saul that David was there and they conspired against David.
Explanation
David Traveled to Ziph
We previously established that David had been wandering from place to place, trying to find peace and escape King Saul’s pursuit. He had come to an area known as the Desert of Ziph.
David had a large company of men with him (when it comes to travel arrangements, that is). 1 Kingdoms 23:12 (OSB) in the Septuagint says that David had “about four hundred” men. In the Hebrew Masoretic Text, 1 Samuel 23:13 says this number was “about six hundred in number” (NIV). So it would have been noticeable when David’s party showed up in a sparsely-populated remote desert area.
Jonathan Visited David
Although Saul was unable to find David, David’s whereabouts were not a total secret. Saul’s son and David’s friend, Jonathan, went to Ziph to visit David:
15 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in New Ziph and strengthened his hands in the Lord. 16 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” 17 So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in New Ziph, and Jonathan went to his own house.
1 Kingdoms 23:15-17 OSB (see also 1 Samuel 23:15-18)
The Ziphites Conspired with Saul
The local Ziphites aligned themselves with King Saul, visiting Saul and conspiring against David:
18 Then the Ziphites came up from the dry places to Saul, who was upon the hill, saying, “Behold, is David not hiding with us in Messara, in the strongholds in New Ziph, in the hill of Hachilah on the south of Jeshimon? 19 Now come down to us, according to all the desire of the king.” They cornered him in for the hands of the king. 20 And Saul said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have toiled on my account. 21 Please go and make more preparations. See the place where his hideout is and tell me quickly, lest by any means he escape through cunning. 22 See therefore and know, and we will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search for him among the thousands of Judah.” 23 So the Ziphites arose and went before Saul.
1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 23:18-23 OSB
David Escaped Saul at Ziph
Because GOD was with David, once again, David escaped Saul’s pursuit and his co-conspirators, the Ziphites.
23 … But David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the wilderness of Maon, westward and to the right of Jessaemon. 24 So Saul and his men went to seek him. It was reported to David, and he went down to the rock in the Desert of Maon. And Saul heard and pursued David in the Desert of Maon. 25 Then Saul and his men went on one side of this mountain, and David and his men on the other side of this mountain. And David was hiding himself to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. 26 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hasten and come here quickly, for the Philistines have invaded the land!” 27 Therefore Saul turned back from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines in battle. So they called that place the Rock of Dividing.
1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 23:23b-27 OSB
Background of Psalm 54
During the time of these events at Ziph, David was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Psalm 54:
1 For the End; in hymns; concerning understanding; by David;
2 when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding with us?”
3 Save me, O God, in Your name,
And judge me in Your power.
4 O God, hear my prayer;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
5 For strangers rise up against me,
And the powerful seek after my soul;
They have not set God before them.
(Pause)6 For behold, God is my helper;
Psalm 53 [54]:1-9 OSB
The Lord is the protector of my soul.
7 He will return evils to my enemies;
Utterly destroy them in Your truth.
8 I will sacrifice to You voluntarily;
I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
9 You delivered me from all my afflictions,
And my eye looked upon my enemies.
The words of Scripture become significantly more meaningful and insightful when we have the historical context of what was happening at the time a passage was written.
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