1 Samuel 23
23
David at Keilah
1People told David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against the city of Keilah. They are robbing grain from the threshing floors.”
2David asked the Lord, “Should I go and fight these Philistines?”
The Lord answered David, “Yes, go attack the Philistines. Save Keilah.”
3But David’s men said to him, “Look, our men are afraid here in Judah. Just think how afraid we will be if we go to Keilah, where the Philistine army is lined up and ready for battle.”
4David again asked the Lord. And the Lord answered David, “Go down to Keilah. I will help you defeat the Philistines.” 5So David and his men went to Keilah. David’s men fought the Philistines. They defeated them and took their cattle. In this way David saved the people of Keilah. 6(When Abiathar ran away to David, Abiathar took an ephod with him.#23:6 When Abiathar … him This means that Abiathar could go before God for David and ask for advice.)
7People told Saul that David was now at Keilah. Saul said, “God has given David to me. David trapped himself when he went into a city surrounded by a wall with gates and bars to lock them.” 8Saul called all his army together for battle. They prepared to go down to Keilah to attack David and his men.
9David learned that Saul was making plans against him. David then said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10David prayed, “Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. 11Will Saul come to Keilah? Will the people of Keilah give me to Saul? Lord, God of Israel, I am your servant. Please tell me!”
The Lord answered, “Saul will come.”
12Again David asked, “Will the people of Keilah give me and my men to Saul?”
The Lord answered, “They will.”
13So David and his men left Keilah. There were about 600 men who went with David. They kept moving from place to place. Saul learned that David had escaped from Keilah, so he did not go to that city.
Saul Chases David
14David went into the desert of Ziph and stayed in the mountains and fortresses there. Saul looked for David the whole time, but the Lord#23:14 the Lord From the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew copy from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “God.” didn’t let Saul catch him.
15David was at Horesh in the desert of Ziph. He was afraid because Saul was coming to kill him. 16But Saul’s son Jonathan went to see David at Horesh and encouraged him to have a stronger faith in God. 17Jonathan told David, “Don’t be afraid. My father Saul won’t hurt you. You will become the king of Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father knows this.”
18Jonathan and David both made an agreement before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, and David stayed at Horesh.
The People of Ziph Tell Saul About David
19Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and told him, “David is hiding in our area. He is at the fortresses of Horesh on Hakilah Hill, south of Jeshimon. 20Now, King, come down any time you want. It is our duty to give David to you.”
21Saul answered, “May the Lord bless you for helping me. 22Go and learn more about David. Keep track of where he goes and who goes to see him. I am told that David is smart and that he is trying to trick me. 23Find all the hiding places that David uses. Then come back to me and tell me everything. Then I’ll go with you. If David is in the area, I will find him, even if I must go to every family group in Judah.”
24So those people went back to Ziph before Saul.
David and his men were in the desert of Maon, south of Jeshimon. 25Saul and his men went to look for David, but the people warned him. They told David that Saul was looking for him. So David then went down to “The Rock” in the desert of Maon. Saul heard that David had gone there, so Saul went to that place to find him.
26Saul was on one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side of the same mountain. David was moving as quickly as possible to get away from Saul. But Saul and his soldiers were going around the mountain to cut them off and trap David and his men.
27Then a messenger arrived and told Saul, “Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking.”
28So Saul stopped chasing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why people call this place “Slippery Rock.”#23:28 Slippery Rock Or “Sela Hammahlekoth.” 29David left the desert of Maon and went to the fortresses near En Gedi.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
1 Samuel 23
23
David Saves the Town of Keilah
1David heard that the Philistines were attacking the town of Keilah and were stealing the newly harvested grain. 2So he asked the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines?”
“Yes,” the Lord answered. “Attack them and save Keilah.”
3But David's men said to him, “We have enough to be afraid of here in Judah; it will be much worse if we go to Keilah and attack the Philistine forces!” 4So David consulted the Lord again, and the Lord said to him, “Go and attack Keilah, because I will give you victory over the Philistines.” 5So David and his men went to Keilah and attacked the Philistines; they killed many of them and took their livestock. And so it was that David saved the town.
6When Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped and joined David in Keilah, he took the ephod with him.
7Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has put him in my power. David has trapped himself by going into a walled town with fortified gates.” 8So Saul called his troops to war, to march against Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9When David heard that Saul was planning to attack him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod here.” 10Then David said, “Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah and destroy it on account of me, your servant. 11Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to Saul? Will Saul really come, as I have heard? Lord, God of Israel, I beg you to answer me!”
The Lord answered, “Saul will come.”
12“And will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul?” David asked again.
“They will,” the Lord answered.
13So David and his men—about six hundred in all—left Keilah at once and kept on the move. When Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up his plan.
David in the Hill Country
14David stayed in hiding in the hill country, in the wilderness near Ziph. Saul was always trying to find him, but God did not turn David over to him. 15David saw that Saul was out to kill him.
David was at Horesh, in the wilderness near Ziph. 16Jonathan went to him there and encouraged him with assurances of God's protection, 17saying to him, “Don't be afraid. My father Saul won't be able to harm you. He knows very well that you are the one who will be the king of Israel and that I will be next in rank to you.” 18#1 S 18.3 The two of them made a sacred promise of friendship to each other. David stayed at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
19 #
Ps 54 Title Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is hiding out in our territory at Horesh on Mount Hachilah, in the southern part of the Judean wilderness. 20We know, Your Majesty, how much you want to capture him; so come to our territory, and we will make sure that you catch him.”
21Saul answered, “May the Lord bless you for being so kind to me! 22Go and make sure once more; find out for certain where he is and who has seen him there. I hear that he is very cunning. 23Find out exactly the places where he hides, and be sure to bring back a report to me right away. Then I will go with you, and if he is still in the region, I will hunt him down, even if I have to search the whole land of Judah.”
24So they left and returned to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in a desolate valley in the southern part of the Judean wilderness. 25Saul and his men set out to look for David, but he heard about it and went to a rocky hill in the wilderness of Maon and stayed there. When Saul heard about this, he went after David. 26Saul and his men were on one side of the hill, separated from David and his men, who were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul and his men, who were closing in on them and were about to capture them. 27Just then a messenger arrived and said to Saul, “Come back at once! The Philistines are invading the country!” 28So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill. 29David left and went to the region of Engedi, where he stayed in hiding.
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