Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 23:1

"And they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing-floors." — 1 Samuel 23:1 (ASV)

Then they told David... . —For this and similar duties the prophet Gad (1 Samuel 22:5) had summoned David to return with his armed band to Judah. There was a great work ready for him in his own country at that time. Saul was becoming more and more neglectful of his higher duty—that of protecting his people; as time went on and his illness increased, his whole thoughts were concentrated on David’s imaginary crimes, and the history of the latter part of his reign is little more than a recital of his sad, bewildered efforts to bring about the young hero’s destruction.

The task of protecting the people from the constant marauding expeditions of the Philistines, and probably of the neighbouring nations, was then entrusted to David. To point this out to the son of Jesse was evidently the first great mission of Gad the seer. Samuel’s mind was, no doubt, occupied with this matter. It is more than probable that Gad was first dispatched to join David at the instigation of the aged, but still mentally vigorous, prophet.

Keilah. —“This town lay in the lowlands of Judah, not far from the Philistine frontier, some miles south of Adullam, being perched on a steep hill overlooking the valley of Elah, not far from the thickets of Hareth” (Conder; Tent Life in Palestine).