1 Samuel 22:3-4

David’s flight to Moab 22:3-4

Moab was a reasonable place for David’s parents to seek protection since David’s great-grandmother, Ruth, was a Moabitess. The exact location of Mizpah (lit. watchtower) of Moab is unknown. David may have wanted to secure the support of the Moabites since he could use help from neighboring kingdoms if Saul’s antagonism led to full-scale war. "The stronghold" (1 Samuel 22:4) was probably another name for Mizpah or another place close to it in Moab.

David’s flight to the forest of Hereth 22:5

Gad appears to have been a prophet who remained with David throughout his reign (cf. 2 Samuel 24:11). God provided another prophet through whom He communicated to the king-elect other than Samuel. The forest of Hereth was somewhere in Judah, but its exact location is unknown. [Note: On the alternate reading, "David . . . had departed," (1 Samuel 22:6), see D. Winton Thomas, "A Note on noda’ in I Samuel XXII. 6," Journal of Theological Studies 21:2 (October 1970):401-2.]