Y dieron aviso a David, diciendo: He aquí, los filisteos están atacando a Keila^a, y están saqueando las eras. 2 Entonces consultó David al SEÑOR, diciendo: ¿Debo ir a atacar¹ a estos filisteos? Y el SEÑOR dijo a David: Ve, ataca² a los filisteos y libra a Keila^a. 3 Pero los hombres de David le dijeron: He aquí, estamos con temor aquí en Judá. ¿Cuánto más si vamos a Keila contra las filas de los filisteos? 4 De nuevo David consultó al SEÑOR; y el SEÑOR le respondió, y dijo: Levántate, desciende a Keila, pues entregaré a los filisteos en tu mano^a. 5 Y David y sus hombres fueron a Keila y pelearon contra los filisteos; y él se llevó sus ganados y los hirió con gran mortandad. Así libró David a los habitantes de Keila.

6 Y sucedió que cuando Abiatar, hijo de Ahimelec, huyó a donde estaba David en Keila^a, descendió con un efod en la mano. 7 Cuando se avisó a Saúl que David había ido a Keila, Saúl dijo: Dios lo ha entregado¹ en mi mano, pues se ha encerrado entrando en una ciudad con doble puerta y barras. 8 Y convocó Saúl a todo el pueblo a la guerra, para descender a Keila a fin de cercar a David y sus hombres. 9 Y David supo que Saúl tramaba el mal contra él; así que le dijo al sacerdote Abiatar^a: Trae el efod^b. 10 Entonces David dijo: Oh SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, tu siervo ciertamente ha oído que Saúl procura venir a Keila para destruir la ciudad por causa mía. 11 ¿Me entregarán en su mano los hombres de Keila? ¿Descenderá Saúl tal como tu siervo ha oído? Oh SEÑOR, Dios de Israel, te ruego que lo hagas saber a tu siervo. Y el SEÑOR dijo: Descenderá. 12 Entonces David dijo: ¿Me entregarán los hombres de Keila a mí y a mis hombres en manos de Saúl? Y el SEÑOR dijo: Os entregarán^a. 13 Se levantó, pues, David con sus hombres, como seiscientos^a, y salieron de Keila y anduvieron de un lugar a otro^1b. Cuando a Saúl le informaron que David se había escapado de Keila, cesó de perseguirlo². 14 David se quedó en el desierto en los refugios¹, y permaneció en la región montañosa en el desierto de Zif^a. Saúl lo buscaba todos los días, pero Dios no lo entregó en su mano^b.

15 Y se dio cuenta¹ David que Saúl había salido para quitarle la vida²; y David se encontraba en el desierto de Zif, en Hores. 16 Y Jonatán, hijo de Saúl, se levantó y fue a donde estaba David en Hores, y le fortaleció¹ en Dios^a. 17 Y le dijo: No temas^a, porque la mano de Saúl mi padre no te encontrará, y tú reinarás sobre Israel y yo seré segundo después de ti^b; Saúl mi padre también sabe esto. 18 Hicieron los dos un pacto delante del SEÑOR^a; y David permaneció en Hores mientras Jonatán se fue a su casa.

19 Entonces subieron los de Zif a Saúl en Guibeá^a diciendo: ¿No está David escondido entre¹ nosotros en los refugios en Hores, en la colina de Haquila^b que está al sur² de Jesimón³? 20 Ahora bien, oh rey, desciende conforme a todo el deseo de tu alma para hacerlo¹; y nuestra parte será entregarlo en manos del rey^a. 21 Y Saúl dijo: Benditos seáis del SEÑOR, porque os compadecisteis de mí^a. 22 Id ahora, aseguraos, investigad y ved dónde está su escondite¹, y quién le ha visto allí, porque me han dicho que es muy astuto. 23 Mirad entonces, reconoced todos los escondites donde se oculta, regresad a mí cuando estéis seguros, y yo iré con vosotros; y sucederá que si estuviera en la tierra, he de hallarle¹ entre todos los miles de Judá.

24 Ellos se levantaron y fueron a Zif delante de Saúl. Y David y sus hombres estaban en el desierto de Maón^a, en el Arabá, al sur¹ de Jesimón². 25 Saúl fue con sus hombres a buscarlo, pero le avisaron a David, yeste bajó a la peña y permaneció en el desierto de Maón. Cuando Saúl lo supo, persiguió a David en el desierto de Maón. 26 Saúl iba por un lado del monte y David y sus hombres por el otro lado del monte; y David se apresuraba para huir de Saúl, pues Saúl y sus hombres estaban rodeando a David y a sus hombres para apresarlos^a. 27 Pero un mensajero vino a Saúl diciendo: Apresúrate y ven, pues los filisteos han hecho una incursión en la tierra. 28 Regresó entonces Saúl, dejando de perseguir a David, y fue al encuentro de los filisteos; por eso llamaron a aquel lugar la Peña de Escape¹. 29 ¹Y subió David de allí, y permaneció en los refugios de En-gadi^a.

Then they informed David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against ^aKeilah and are plundering the threshing floors.” 2 So David ^ainquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and ¹attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and ²attack 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 ^aI 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 ^afled 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 ^aAbiathar the priest, “^bBring 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, “^aThey will hand you over.” 13 Then David and his men, ^aabout six hundred, rose up and departed from Keilah, and they went ^bwherever they could go. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up ¹the pursuit. 14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of ^aZiph. And Saul searched for him every day, but ^bGod 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 ^1aencouraged him in God. 17 He said to him, “^aDo 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 ^bSaul my father knows that as well.” 18 So ^athe two of them made a covenant before the LORD; and David stayed at Horesh, while Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then ^aZiphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not keeping himself hidden with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on ^bthe hill of Hachilah, which is south of ¹Jeshimon? 20 Now then, O king, come down, ¹since you fully desire to ²do so; and ^aour part shall be to hand him over to the king.” 21 Saul said, “May you be blessed of the LORD, ^asince you have had compassion on me. 22 Go now, be more persistent, and investigate and see his place where ¹he 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 ^aMaon, in the Arabah to the south of ¹Jeshimon. 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 ^awere 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 ¹the Rock of Division. 29 ¹And David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of ^aEngedi.

Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against ^aKeilah and are plundering the threshing floors.” 2 So David ^ainquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and ¹attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and ²attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the LORD once more. And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for ^aI will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech ^afled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7 When it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has ¹delivered him into my hand, 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 Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to ^aAbiathar the priest, “^bBring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O 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 men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “^aThey will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, ^aabout six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went ^bwherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he ¹gave up the pursuit. 14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of ^aZiph. And Saul sought him every day, but ^bGod did not deliver him into his hand.

15 Now David ¹became aware 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, arose and went to David at Horesh, and ^1aencouraged him in God. 17 Thus he said to him, “^aDo 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 next to you; and ^bSaul my father knows that also.” 18 So ^athe two of them made a covenant before the LORD; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then ^aZiphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on ^bthe hill of Hachilah, which is on the ¹south of ²Jeshimon? 20 Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to ¹do so; and ^aour part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.” 21 Saul said, “May you be blessed of the LORD, ^afor you have had compassion on me. 22 Go now, make more sure, and investigate and see his place where his ¹haunt is, 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 hides himself 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 Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of ^aMaon, in the Arabah to the ¹south of ²Jeshimon. 25 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard 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, for Saul and his men ^awere surrounding David and his men to seize them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place ¹the Rock of Escape. 29 ¹David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of ^aEngedi.