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1 Samuel 23:21

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 23:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Saul said, Blessed be ye of Jehovah; for ye have had compassion on me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Saul said, Blessed be ye of Jehovah; for ye have had compassion on me.
1 Samuel 23:21 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18And they two made a covenant before Jehovah: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
20Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king`s hand.
21And Saul said, Blessed be ye of Jehovah; for ye have had compassion on me.
22Go, I pray you, make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, [and] who hath seen him there; for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly.
23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me of a certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.
24And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Saul said, blessed [be] ye of the Lord, etc.] He highly commends them for the offer they made to him, blesses God for them, and desires the blessing of God upon them for it: for ye have compassion on me; pitied him on account of the troubles he met with from his son-in-law, were sorry for him, and sympathized with him, which others did not, of which he complained, (<092208>1 Samuel 22:8).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Sa1 22:8; Jdg 17:2; Psa 10:3; Isa 66:5; Mic 3:11 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 23:22”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“For this treachery Saul blessed them: "Be blessed of the Lord, that ye have compassion upon me." In his evil conscience he suspected David of seeking to become his murderer, and therefore thanked God in his delusion that the Ziphites had had compassion upon him, and shown him David's hiding-place. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 23:22”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification