23:14 strongholds in the wilderness. The term “strongholds” suggests a geographical area and not a single location (22:4; 2 Sam. 5:17; 23:14).

Wilderness of Ziph. The village of Ziph is thirteen miles southeast of Keilah and five miles southeast of Hebron. The wilderness would be the desert area south of Hebron. Ziph is mentioned in Josh. 15:55, along with Maon (v. 24) and Carmel (15:12; 25:2).

God did not give him into his hand. God is in sovereign control of David’s destiny (v. 7; 22:20 and notes).