So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
Now we find why the prophet Gad (by divine direction, no doubt) ordered David to go into the land of Judah, Sa1 22:5. It was that, since Saul neglected the public safety, he might take care of it, notwithstanding the ill treatment that was given him; for he must render good for evil, and therein be a type of him who not only ventured his...
Commenting on 1 Samuel 23:1-6
So David and his men went to Keilah,.... Animated by a commission from God, and a promise of success by him: and fought with the Philistines; encamped before Keilah: and brought away their cattle; which they had brought with them for the support of their army; or having routed them, they pursued them into their own country, and brought off their cattle from thence: and...
Brought away their cattle - The forage and spoil which the Philistines had taken, driving the country before them round about Keilah.