1 Samuel 23

1And they toldH5046 DavidH1732, sayingH559, Behold, the PhilistinesH6430 are fightingH3898 against KeilahH7084, and are robbing the threshing-floors. 2Therefore DavidH1732 inquired of Jehovah, sayingH559, Shall I go and smite these PhilistinesH6430? And Jehovah saidH559 unto DavidH1732, Go, and smite the PhilistinesH6430, and saveH3467 KeilahH7084. 3And David’s menH376 saidH559 unto him, Behold, we are afraidH3372 hereH6311 in JudahH3063: how much more then if we go to KeilahH7084 against the armies of the PhilistinesH6430? 4Then DavidH1732 inquired of Jehovah yetH5750 againH5750. And Jehovah answered him, and saidH559, AriseH6965, goH3381 down to KeilahH7084; for I will deliver the PhilistinesH6430 into thy handH3027. 5And DavidH1732 and his menH376 went to KeilahH7084, and foughtH3898 with the PhilistinesH6430, and brought awayH5090 their cattle, and slew them with a greatH1419 slaughterH4347. So DavidH1732 savedH3467 the inhabitantsH3427 of KeilahH7084. 6And it came to pass, when AbiatharH54 the sonH1121 of AhimelechH288 fledH1272 to DavidH1732 to KeilahH7084, that he came downH3381 with an ephodH646 in his handH3027.

7And it was toldH5046 SaulH7586 that DavidH1732 was comeH935 to KeilahH7084. And SaulH7586 saidH559, GodH430 hath deliveredH5462 him into my handH3027; for he is shutH5462 in, by entering into a town that hath gates and barsH1280. 8And SaulH7586 summoned all the peopleH5971 to warH4421, to goH3381 down to KeilahH7084, to besiege DavidH1732 and his menH376. 9And DavidH1732 knewH3045 that SaulH7586 was devising mischief against him; and he saidH559 to AbiatharH54 the priestH3548, BringH5066 hither the ephodH646. 10Then saidH559 DavidH1732, O Jehovah, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, thy servantH5650 hath surely heardH8085 that SaulH7586 seeketh to comeH935 to KeilahH7084, to destroyH7843 the cityH5892 for my sakeH5668. 11Will the men of KeilahH7084 deliverH5462 me up into his handH3027? will SaulH7586 comeH3381 down, as thy servantH5650 hath heardH8085? O Jehovah, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, I beseech thee, tellH5046 thy servantH5650. And Jehovah saidH559, He will comeH3381 down. 12Then saidH559 DavidH1732, Will the menH376 of KeilahH7084 deliverH5462 up me and my menH376 into the handH3027 of SaulH7586? And Jehovah saidH559, They will deliverH5462 thee up. 13Then DavidH1732 and his menH376, who were about sixH8337 hundredH3967, aroseH6965 and departed out of KeilahH7084, and wentH1980 whithersoever they could goH1980. And it was toldH5046 SaulH7586 that DavidH1732 was escapedH4422 from KeilahH7084; and he forbare to goH1980 forthH3318. 14And DavidH1732 abode in the wildernessH4057 in the strongholdsH4679, and remainedH3427 in the hill-country in the wildernessH4057 of ZiphH2128. And SaulH7586 soughtH1245 him every dayH3117, but GodH430 delivered him not into his handH3027.

15And DavidH1732 sawH7200 that SaulH7586 was comeH3318 out to seekH1245 his lifeH5315: and DavidH1732 was in the wildernessH4057 of ZiphH2128 in the wood. 16And JonathanH3083, Saul’s sonH1121, aroseH6965, and went to DavidH1732 into the wood, and strengthenedH2388 his handH3027 in GodH430. 17And he saidH559 unto him, FearH3372 not; for the handH3027 of SaulH7586 my fatherH1 shall not findH4672 thee; and thou shalt beH1961 kingH4427 over IsraelH3478, and I shall beH1961 next unto thee; and that alsoH1571 SaulH7586 my fatherH1 knoweth. 18And they twoH8147 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 before Jehovah: and DavidH1732 abode in the wood, and JonathanH3083 wentH1980 to his houseH1004.

19Then cameH5927 up the ZiphitesH2130 to SaulH7586 to GibeahH1390, sayingH559, Doth not DavidH1732 hideH5641 himself with us in the strongholdsH4679 in the wood, in the hillH1389 of Hachilah, which is on the southH3225 of the desert? 20NowH6258 thereforeH6258, O kingH4428, comeH3381 down, according to all the desireH5315 of thy soulH5315 to comeH3381 down; and our part shall be to deliverH5462 him up into the king’sH4428 handH3027. 21And SaulH7586 saidH559, BlessedH1288 be ye of Jehovah; for ye have had compassionH2550 on me. 22Go, I pray you, makeH3045 yetH5750 more sure, and knowH3045 and seeH7200 his placeH4725 whereH834 his haunt is, and who hath seenH7200 him there; for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly. 23SeeH7200 therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places whereH834 he hideth himself, and comeH1980 ye again to me of a certainty, and I will goH1980 with you: and it shall comeH1980 to pass, if he beH1961 in the landH776, that I will searchH2664 him out among all the thousandsH505 of JudahH3063.

24And they aroseH6965, and went to ZiphH2128 before SaulH7586: but DavidH1732 and his menH376 were in the wildernessH4057 of MaonH4584, in the ArabahH6160 on the southH3225 of the desertH6160. 25And SaulH7586 and his menH376 wentH3381 to seekH1245 him. And they toldH5046 DavidH1732: wherefore he cameH3381 downH3381 to the rockH5553, and abode in the wildernessH4057 of MaonH4584. And when SaulH7586 heardH8085that, he pursuedH7291 after DavidH1732 in the wildernessH4057 of MaonH4584. 26And SaulH7586 went on this sideH6654 of the mountainH2022, and DavidH1732 and his menH376 on that sideH6654 of the mountainH2022: and DavidH1732 made haste to get awayH2648 for fear of SaulH7586; for SaulH7586 and his menH376 compassed DavidH1732 and his menH376 round about to take them. 27But there cameH935 a messengerH4397 unto SaulH7586, sayingH559, HasteH4116 thee, and comeH935; for the PhilistinesH6430 have madeH6584 a raidH6584 upon the landH776. 28SoH3651 SaulH7586 returnedH7725 from pursuingH7291 after DavidH1732, and wentH7725 against the PhilistinesH6430: thereforeH3651 they calledH7121 that placeH4725 Sela-hammahlekoth. 29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi.