23 The Philistines were attacking the town of Keilah. [ a ] They were taking away the grain that the people had brought from their fields. Someone told David about this. 2 So David asked the Lord , ‘Should I go and attack those Philistines?’
The Lord answered him, ‘Go and attack the Philistines. Save Keilah town.’
3 But David's men said to him, ‘We are afraid when we are here in Judah. If we go to attack the Philistine army at Keilah, we will be in even more danger.’ 4 So David asked the Lord again. The Lord answered again, ‘Go to Keilah. I will put the Philistines under your power.’
5 So David and his men went to Keilah. They fought against the Philistines and they killed many of them. Also, they took away their animals. In that way, David saved the people who lived in Keilah.
6 When Ahimelech's son Abiathar had run away, he had come to David at Keilah. And he had brought the priests' ephod with him.
7 Someone told Saul that David was now at Keilah. Saul said, ‘God has now put David under my power. David has gone into a town that has high walls and strong gates. He will not be able to leave that place.’ [ b ] 8 So Saul called his army to join him. They prepared to go to Keilah and to attack David and his men.
9 Somebody told David that Saul was preparing to attack him. David said to Abiathar the priest, ‘Bring the ephod here.’ 10 David prayed, ‘ Lord , Israel's God. I am your servant. I have heard news that Saul is preparing to attack Keilah. He wants to destroy this town because I am here. 11 Will the leaders in Keilah give me to Saul? Will Saul really come here, as I have heard that he will? Lord , Israel's God, please tell me what will happen.’ The Lord said, ‘Saul will come.’
12 David asked the Lord again, ‘Will the leaders in Keilah give me and my men to Saul?’ The Lord said, ‘They will do that.’ [ c ]
13 So David and his 600 men left Keilah. They moved around to stay in different places. People told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah. So Saul decided that he would not go there.
14 David stayed in places where he would be safe. They were in the desert, and in the hill country of Ziph. [ d ] Saul always tried to find David. But God did not let Saul catch David.
15 David was at Horesh in the Ziph Desert. He heard news that Saul was coming there to kill him. 16 Saul's son, Jonathan, went to visit David at Horesh. He told David to be brave, because God would keep him safe. 17 Jonathan said to David, ‘Do not be afraid. My father will never be able to hurt you. You will be the next king to rule over Israel. I will be your most important officer. My father Saul also knows that is true.’
18 Jonathan and David promised again in the Lord 's name that they would be faithful friends of one another. Then Jonathan went to his home. David stayed at Horesh.
19 Some people from Ziph went to visit Saul at Gibeah. They said to Saul, ‘David is hiding among our people. He is on Hakilah hill, south of Jeshimon. He is hiding in the Horesh hills. 20 Now, King Saul, we know that you want to catch David. So you can come to our land at any time. We will help you to catch him.’
21 Saul replied, ‘I ask the Lord to bless you, because you have been kind to me. 22 Do a bit more to help me now. Make sure that you know where he is. Find the people who have seen him there. I have heard that David is very clever. 23 Find all the places where he hides. When you know all about him, come back and tell me. Then I will come with you. If he is still in that region, I will surely find him. I will look through all the land of Judah and I will catch him.’
24 So the people returned to Ziph before Saul himself went there. David and his men were in the Maon Desert. This was south of Jeshimon, in the Jordan Valley. 25 Saul and his men started to look for David. But David heard about this. So he and his men went to hide at a great rock in the Maon Desert. When Saul heard about this, he and his men went into the Maon Desert to find David.
26 Saul and his men were going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side of the mountain. They were moving quickly to escape from Saul. Saul and his men were getting very near to David and his men. They would soon catch them.
27 But then a man arrived with a message for Saul. He said to Saul, ‘Come quickly. The Philistines are attacking our land!’ 28 So Saul stopped chasing after David. Instead, he went to fight against the Philistines. So people call that place ‘The rock where they escaped’.
29 David left that place. He went to hide in the safe places at En Gedi.
23 People told David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against the city of Keilah. They are robbing grain from the threshing floors.”
2 David asked the Lord , “Should I go and fight these Philistines?”
The Lord answered David, “Yes, go attack the Philistines. Save Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Look, our men are afraid here in Judah. Just think how afraid we will be if we go to Keilah, where the Philistine army is lined up and ready for battle.”
4 David again asked the Lord . And the Lord answered David, “Go down to Keilah. I will help you defeat the Philistines.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah. David’s men fought the Philistines. They defeated them and took their cattle. In this way David saved the people of Keilah. 6 (When Abiathar ran away to David, Abiathar took an ephod with him. [ a ] )
7 People told Saul that David was now at Keilah. Saul said, “God has given David to me. David trapped himself when he went into a city surrounded by a wall with gates and bars to lock them.” 8 Saul called all his army together for battle. They prepared to go down to Keilah to attack David and his men.
9 David learned that Saul was making plans against him. David then said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10 David prayed, “ Lord , God of Israel, I have heard that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. 11 Will Saul come to Keilah? Will the people of Keilah give me to Saul? Lord , God of Israel, I am your servant. Please tell me!”
The Lord answered, “Saul will come.”
12 Again David asked, “Will the people of Keilah give me and my men to Saul?”
The Lord answered, “They will.”
13 So David and his men left Keilah. There were about 600 men who went with David. They kept moving from place to place. Saul learned that David had escaped from Keilah, so he did not go to that city.
14 David went into the desert of Ziph and stayed in the mountains and fortresses there. Saul looked for David the whole time, but the Lord [ b ] didn’t let Saul catch him.
15 David was at Horesh in the desert of Ziph. He was afraid because Saul was coming to kill him. 16 But Saul’s son Jonathan went to see David at Horesh and encouraged him to have a stronger faith in God. 17 Jonathan told David, “Don’t be afraid. My father Saul won’t hurt you. You will become the king of Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father knows this.”
18 Jonathan and David both made an agreement before the Lord . Then Jonathan went home, and David stayed at Horesh.
19 Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and told him, “David is hiding in our area. He is at the fortresses of Horesh on Hakilah Hill, south of Jeshimon. 20 Now, King, come down any time you want. It is our duty to give David to you.”
21 Saul answered, “May the Lord bless you for helping me. 22 Go and learn more about David. Keep track of where he goes and who goes to see him. I am told that David is smart and that he is trying to trick me. 23 Find all the hiding places that David uses. Then come back to me and tell me everything. Then I’ll go with you. If David is in the area, I will find him, even if I must go to every family group in Judah.”
24 So those people went back to Ziph before Saul.
David and his men were in the desert of Maon, south of Jeshimon. 25 Saul and his men went to look for David, but the people warned him. They told David that Saul was looking for him. So David then went down to “The Rock” in the desert of Maon. Saul heard that David had gone there, so Saul went to that place to find him.
26 Saul was on one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side of the same mountain. David was moving as quickly as possible to get away from Saul. But Saul and his soldiers were going around the mountain to cut them off and trap David and his men.
27 Then a messenger arrived and told Saul, “Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking.”
28 So Saul stopped chasing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why people call this place “Slippery Rock.” [ c ] 29 David left the desert of Maon and went to the fortresses near En Gedi.
23 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2 Therefore David enquired of the Lord , saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4 Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.
12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.
13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18 And they two made a covenant before the Lord : and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord ; for ye have compassion on me.
22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
23 Then they informed David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against ( A ) Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.” 2 So David ( B ) inquired of the Lord , saying, “Shall I go and [ a ] attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and [ b ] attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are fearful here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?” 4 So David inquired of the Lord once more. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for ( C ) I am going to hand the Philistines over to you.” 5 Then David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines; and he drove away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech ( D ) fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7 When it was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has handed him over to me, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.” 8 So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. 9 But David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to ( E ) Abiathar the priest, “ ( F ) Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “ Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” And the Lord said, “ ( G ) They will hand you over.” 13 Then David and his men, ( H ) about six hundred, rose up and departed from Keilah, and they went ( I ) wherever they could go. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up [ c ] the pursuit. 14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of ( J ) Ziph. And Saul searched for him every day, but ( K ) God did not hand him over to him.
15 Now David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph, at Horesh. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, set out and went to David at Horesh, and [ d ] ( L ) encouraged him in God. 17 He said to him, “ ( M ) Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel, and I will be second in command to you; and ( N ) Saul my father knows that as well.” 18 So ( O ) the two of them made a covenant before the Lord ; and David stayed at Horesh, while Jonathan went to his house.
19 Then ( P ) Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not keeping himself hidden with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on ( Q ) the hill of Hachilah, which is south of [ e ] Jeshimon? 20 Now then, O king, come down, [ f ] since you fully desire to [ g ] do so; and ( R ) our part shall be to hand him over to the king.” 21 Saul said, “May you be blessed of the Lord , ( S ) since you have had compassion on me. 22 Go now, be more persistent, and investigate and see his place where [ h ] he is hiding, and who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very cunning. 23 So look, and learn about all the hiding places where he keeps himself hidden, and return to me with certainty, and I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”
24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of ( T ) Maon, in the Arabah to the south of [ i ] Jeshimon. 25 When Saul and his men went to seek him , they informed David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard about it , he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, while Saul and his men ( U ) were surrounding David and his men to apprehend them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have launched an attack against the land!” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines; therefore they called that place [ j ] the Rock of Division. 29 [ k ] And David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of ( V ) Engedi.
23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah ( A ) and are looting the threshing floors,” ( B ) 2 he inquired ( C ) of the Lord , saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
4 Once again David inquired ( D ) of the Lord , and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines ( E ) into your hand. ( F ) ” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. 6 (Now Abiathar ( G ) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod ( H ) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, ( I ) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” ( J ) 8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar ( K ) the priest, “Bring the ephod. ( L ) ” 10 David said, “ Lord , God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord , God of Israel, tell your servant.”
And the Lord said, “He will.”
12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender ( M ) me and my men to Saul?”
And the Lord said, “They will.”
13 So David and his men, ( N ) about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
14 David stayed in the wilderness ( O ) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. ( P ) Day after day Saul searched ( Q ) for him, but God did not ( R ) give David into his hands.
15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that [ a ] Saul had come out to take his life. ( S ) 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength ( T ) in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king ( U ) over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant ( V ) before the Lord . Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
19 The Ziphites ( W ) went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us ( X ) in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, ( Y ) south of Jeshimon? 20 Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving ( Z ) him into your hands.”
21 Saul replied, “The Lord bless ( AA ) you for your concern ( AB ) for me. 22 Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. 23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track ( AC ) him down among all the clans of Judah.”
24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, ( AD ) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. ( AE ) 25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.
26 Saul ( AF ) was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” 28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth. [ b ] 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds ( AG ) of En Gedi. [ c ] ( AH )
