So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.
Here, 1. The Ziphites offer their service to Saul, to betray David to him, Sa1 23:19, Sa1 23:20. He was sheltering himself in the wilderness of Ziph (Sa1 23:14, Sa1 23:15), putting the more confidence in the people of that country because they were of his own tribe.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 23:19-29
Therefore Saul returned from pursuing after David,.... Stopped short at once, as soon as ever he received the message: and went against the Philistines; to stop them in their progress, and drive them out of his country: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth, which signifies the rock of divisions.
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. (l) That is, stone of division, because there they divided themselves one from another.