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.

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 (robbing) the threshing floors of the grain.” 2 So David ^ainquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Listen, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the battle lines of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for ^aI will hand over the Philistines to you.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines; he drove away their cattle and struck them with a great slaughter. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech ^afled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Now when Saul was informed that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has handed him over to me, for he shut himself in by entering a city that has double gates and bars.” 8 So Saul summoned all the people (soldiers) for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. 9 But David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to ^aAbiathar the priest, “^bBring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul intends to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah hand me over to him? 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 asked, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” The LORD said, “^aThey will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, ^aabout six hundred, arose and left Keilah, and they went ^bwherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit. 14 David stayed in the wilderness in strongholds, in the hill country of the Wilderness of ^aZiph. Saul searched for him every day, but ^bGod did not hand David over to him.

15 Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in the woods at Horesh. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went into the woods to David at Horesh, and ^1aencouraged him in God. 17 He said to him, “^aDo not be afraid; the hand of my father Saul will not find you. You will be king over Israel and I will be second in command to you; ^bmy father Saul knows this too.” 18 So ^athe two of them made a covenant before the LORD; and David stayed in the woods at Horesh and Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then the ^aZiphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds of Horesh, on ^bthe hill of Hachilah, which is south of ¹Jeshimon? 20 Now then, O king, come down to Ziph in accordance with all your heart’s desire to do so and capture him; and ^aour part shall be to hand him over to the king.” 21 Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, ^abecause you have had compassion on me. 22 Go now, be very persistent and investigate, and see where his ¹haunt is and who has seen him there; for I am told he is very cunning. 23 So look, and take note of all the places where he hides and come back to me with the established facts, then I will go with you. If he is anywhere in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

24 So they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of ^aMaon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. 25 Then Saul and his men went to search for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed there in the Wilderness of Maon. 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 capture them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, because the Philistines have attacked the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape. 29 ¹David 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 pillaging the threshing floors.” 2 So David ^aasked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” And Yahweh said to David, “Go and strike the Philistines and save 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 battle lines of the Philistines?” 4 Then David asked of Yahweh once more. And Yahweh 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 saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 Now it happened when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech ^afled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Then it was told to Saul that David had come to Keilah, so Saul said, “God has ¹delivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.” 8 Then Saul summoned all the people for battle, 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, “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, Your slave has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to make the city a ruin on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your slave has heard? O Yahweh, the God of Israel, I pray, tell Your slave.” And Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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. Now it was told to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, so he ceased going out in pursuit. 14 And 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 give him into his hand.

15 Then David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. Now David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 So Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh and ^astrengthened his hand in God. 17 And 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 to you; and ^bSaul my father knows that also.” 18 So ^athe two of them cut a covenant before Yahweh; 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 So now, O king, according to all the desire of your soul to come down, come down here; and ^aour part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.” 21 And Saul said, “May you be blessed of Yahweh, ^afor you have had compassion on me. 22 Go now, make more sure, and know and see his place—where his very foot is—and who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very crafty. 23 So see and know 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 So Saul and his men went to seek him, and they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard it and pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 And 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, but 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 ¹Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of ^aEngedi.