The wilderness of Ziph. — This wilderness probably lies between Hebron and En-gedi. Some of these “stations” in the wanderings of the future king are only doubtfully identified. Cowper’s musical — though perhaps, according to our recent canons of taste, old-fashioned — lines well describe the Psalmist-king’s weary wanderings during this portion of his chequered career: —
“See Judah’s promised king bereft of all,
Driven out an exile from the face of Saul.
To distant caves the lonely wanderer flies,
To seek that peace a tyrant’s frown denies.
His soul exults; hope animates his lays;
The sense of mercy kindles into praise;
And wilds familiar with the lion s roar
Ring with ecstatic sounds unheard before.”
COWPER.
Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him. — This is merely a general remark, and intended to cover a long period of time, including the remaining portion of Saul’s reign, during which David was perpetually exposed to Saul’s attempts to destroy him. It quietly mentions also that though Saul was armed with all the power of the king in Israel, he was powerless, for the invisible King of Israel declined to give this hated David into his hand.