The First Book of Samuel

1Sa 23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Phi-lis´-tines fight against Kei´-lah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

1Sa 23:2 Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Phi-lis´-tines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Phi-lis´tines, and save Kei´-lah.

1Sa 23:3 And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Kei´-lah against the armies of the Philis´-tines?

1Sa 23:4 Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Kei´-lah; for I will deliver the Phi-lis´-tines into thine hand.

1Sa 23:5 So David and his men went to Kei´-lah, and fought with the Phi-lis´tines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Kei´-lah.

1Sa 23:6 And it came to pass, when A-bi´a-thar the son of A-him´-e-lech fled to David to Kei´-lah, that he came down with an e´-phod in his hand.

1Sa 23:7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Kei´-lah. 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.

1Sa 23:8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Kei´-lah, to besiege David and his men.

1Sa 23:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to A-bi´-a-thar the priest, Bring hither the e´-phod.

1Sa 23:10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, Thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Kei´-lah, to destroy the city for my sake.

1Sa 23:11 Will the men of Kei´-lah 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.

1Sa 23:12 Then said David, Will the men of Kei´-lah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.

1Sa 23:13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Kei´-lah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Kei´-lah; and he forbare to go forth.

1Sa 23:14 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.

1Sa 23:15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

1Sa 23:16 And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

1Sa 23:17 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.

1Sa 23:18 And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

1Sa 23:19 Then came up the Ziph´-ites to Saul to Gib´-e-ah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hach´i-lah, which is on the south of Jesh´-imon?

1Sa 23:20 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.

1Sa 23:21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord; for ye have compassion on me.

1Sa 23:22 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.

1Sa 23:23 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.

1Sa 23:24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Ma´-on, in the plain on the south of Jesh´-imon.

1Sa 23:25 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 Ma´-on. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Ma´on.

1Sa 23:26 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.

1Sa 23:27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Phi-lis´-tines have invaded the land.

1Sa 23:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Phi-lis´-tines: therefore they called that place Se´-la–hammah-le´-koth.

1Sa 23:29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En–ge´-di.