John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And David’s men said unto him, behold, we be afraid here in Judah , etc.] Of Saul and his army falling upon them, and crushing them, though they were in the tribe of Judah, where they had many friends, and in the heart of that tribe: how much more then if we come to Keilah ; which, though in the same tribe, yet in the further parts of it, and on the borders of the Philistines: and there engage against the armies of the Philistines ? too numerous and powerful for them, and so by this means be driven out of their place of safety, the forest of Hareth, where they could hide themselves upon occasion; to be exposed not only to the Philistines, before them, on the edge of their country, from whence they could have re-enforcements easily, but to Saul and his army behind them; and so, being between two fires, would be in danger of being cut off.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - When princes persecute God's people, let them expect vexation on all sides. The way for any country to be quiet, is to let God's church be quiet in it: if Saul fight against David, the Philistines fight agains his country. David considered himself the protector of the land. Thu did the Saviour Jesus, and left us an example. Those are unlike David who sullenly decline to do good, if they are not rewarded for services.
Original Hebrew ויאמרו559 אנשׁי376 דוד1732 אליו413 הנה2009 אנחנו587 פה6311 ביהודה3063 יראים3372 ואף637 כי3588 נלך1980 קעלה7084 אל413 מערכות4634 פלשׁתים׃6430
