1 Samuel 23
1. 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.
