19-26. Hypocrisy of Citizens of Ziph—The citizens of Keilah, who should have repaid the interest and zeal of David in delivering them from the hands of the Philistines, would have given him up because of their fear of Saul rather than to have suffered a siege for his sake. But the men of Ziph would do worse; they would betray David into the hands of his enemy, not because of their loyalty to the king, but because of their hatred of David. Their interest for the king was only a pretense. They were of their own accord acting the part of hypocrites when they offered to assist in the capture of David. It was upon these false-hearted betrayers that Saul invoked the blessing of the Lord. He praised their satanic spirit in betraying an innocent man, as the spirit and act of virtue in showing compassion to himself. Apparently David was in greater danger than he had ever been before. Upon learning the perils to which he was exposed, he changed his position, seeking refuge in the mountains between Maon and the Dead Sea (The Signs of the Times, October 12, 1888).{2BC 1021.1}

(1021) 19-26. Zif-indbyggernes hykleri. - Indbyggerne i Ke'ila, som skulle have belønnet Davids interesser og iver, med at udfri dem fra Filisterens hænder, vil have opgivet ham, på grund af deres frygt for Saul, frem for at lide en streng periode for hans skyld. Men Zifs mænd ville gøre noget værre, de ville forråde David til hans fjenders hænder, ikke på grund af deres loyalitet mod kongen, men på grund af deres had til david. Deres interesse for kongen var kun et påskud. Af dem selv handlede de som hyklere, da de tilbød at hjælpe med tilfangetagelsen af David. Det var på disse falsk-hjertede bedragere, at Saul påberåbte sig Herrens velsignelse. Han roste deres sataniske ånd at forråde en uskyldig mand, da en dydig ånd og handling viste medfølelse til ham selv. David var tilsyneladende i større fare end han nogen sinde havde været før. Ved at lære af de farer han blev udsat for, ændrede han sit standpunkt, og søgte tilflugt i bjergene mellem Maon og det Døde Hav (ST. 12. okt., 1888).