1 Samuel Chapter 23

1 Samuel Chapter 23
1 Then they told David, saying, Behold,
the Philistines fight against Keilah, and
spoil the barns.
2 Therefore David asked counsel of the
Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these
Philistines? And the Lord answered
David, Go and smite the Philistines, and
save Keilah.
3 And David's men said unto him, See,
we be afraid here in Judah, how much
more if we come to Keilah against the
host of the Philistines?
4 Then David asked counsel of the Lord
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: thus David
saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 (And when Abiathar the son of
Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he
brought an ephod with him)
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, seeing he is come into a city that
hath gates and bars.
8 Then Saul called all the people
together to war, for to go down to
Keilah, and to besiege David and his
men.
9 And David having knowledge that Saul
imagined mischief against him, said to
Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod.
10 Then said David, O Lord God of
Israel, thy servant hath heard, that Saul is
about to come to Keilah to destroy the
city for my sake.
11 Will the lords of Keilah deliver me
up into his hand? And 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 lords of
Keilah deliver me up, and the men that
are with me, 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 whither they
could. And it was told Saul, that David
was fled from Keilah, and he left off his
journey.
14 And David abode in the wilderness
in 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 for to seek his life: and David was in
the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.
16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose and
went to David into the wood, and
comforted him in God,
17 And 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 also
Saul my father knoweth it.
18 So they twain made a covenant
before the Lord: and David did remain
in the wood: but Jonathan went to his
house.
19 Then came up the Ziphims to Saul to
Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide
himself by us in holds, in the wood in the
hill of Hachilah, which is on the right
side of Jeshimon?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down
according to all that thine heart can
desire, and our part shall be to deliver
him into the king's hands. 21 Then Saul
said, Be ye blessed of the Lord: for ye
have had compassion on me.
22 Go, I pray you, and prepare yet
better: know and see his place where he
haunteth, and who hath seen him there:
for it is said to me, He is subtle, and
crafty.
23 See therefore and know all the secret
places where he hideth himself, and
come ye again to me with the certainty,
and I will go with you: and if he be in
the land, I will search him out throughout
all the thousands of Judah. 24 Then they
arose and went to Ziph before Saul, but
David and his men were in the
wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the
right hand of Jeshimon.
25 Saul also and his men went to seek
him, and they told David: wherefore he
came down unto a rock, and abode in the
wilderness of Maon. And when Saul
heard that, he followed after David in
the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul and his men went on the
one side of the mountain, and David and
his men on the other side of the
mountain: and David made haste to get
from the presence of Saul: for Saul and
his men compassed David and his men
round about, to take them.
27 But there came a messenger to Saul,
saying, Haste thee, and come: for the
Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from
pursuing David, and went against the
Philistines. Therefore they called that
place, Sela-hammahlekoth. 29 (24:1)
And David went thence, and dwelt in
holds at En-gedi.