Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

And David went out to meet them,.... Out of the hold where he was; either out of respect and deference to them, some of them being persons of eminence; or it may be out of suspicion, fearing they were not his friends, being, it may be, chiefly of the tribe of Benjamin, and therefore was desirous of sounding them before he admitted them: and said unto them, if ye be come peaceably unto me to help me; if they were come with a good will to him, and intention to help him against his enemy, and protect him: mine heart shall be knit unto you; they should have such a share in his affections, that their hearts would be as one, as his and Jonathan's were, Sa1 18:1, but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies; into the hands of Saul, and his courtiers, that sought his life: seeing there is no wrong in mine hands; no injury done by him to Saul, or to them, or to any other: the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it; he that sees all things, let him revenge it; and it is not only a wish that he would, but a prayer of faith that so it would be.