1 Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against AJosh 15:44; Neh 3:17, 18Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.” 2 So David A1 Sam 23:4, 6, 9-12; 2 Sam 5:19, 23inquired of the Loʀᴅ, saying, “Shall I go and 1Lit smiteattack these Philistines?” And the Loʀᴅ said to David, “Go and 1Lit smiteattack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the Loʀᴅ once more. And the Loʀᴅ answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for AJosh 8:7; Judg 7:7I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech A1 Sam 22:20fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7 When it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has 1Lit alienateddelivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.” 8 So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. 9 Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to A1 Sam 22:20Abiathar the priest, “B1 Sam 23:6; 30:7Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O Loʀᴅ God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account. 11  “Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O Loʀᴅ God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Loʀᴅ said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Loʀᴅ said, “AJudg 15:10-13; 1 Sam 23:20They will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, A1 Sam 22:2; 25:13about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went B2 Sam 15:20wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he 1Lit ceased going outgave up the pursuit. 14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of AJosh 15:55; 2 Chr 11:8Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but BPs 32:7God did not deliver him into his hand.

15 Now David 1Lit sawbecame aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and 1Lit strengthened his handA1 Sam 30:6; Neh 2:18encouraged him in God. 17 Thus he said to him, “APs 27:1, 3; 118:6; Is 54:17; Heb 13:6Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and B1 Sam 20:31; 24:20Saul my father knows that also.” 18 So A1 Sam 18:3; 20:12-17, 42; 2 Sam 9:1; 21:7the two of them made a covenant before the Loʀᴅ; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then A1 Sam 26:1; Ps 54: titleZiphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on B1 Sam 26:3the hill of Hachilah, which is on the 1Lit right sidesouth of 2Or the desertJeshimon? 20  “Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to 1Lit come downdo so; and A1 Sam 23:12our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.” 21 Saul said, “May you be blessed of the Loʀᴅ, A1 Sam 22:8for you have had compassion on me. 22  “Go now, make more sure, and investigate and see his place where his 1Lit foothaunt is, and who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very cunning. 23  “So look, and learn about all the hiding places where he hides himself and return to me with certainty, and I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

24 Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of AJosh 15:55; 1 Sam 25:2Maon, in the Arabah to the 1Lit right sidesouth of 2Or the desertJeshimon. 25 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men APs 17:9were surrounding David and his men to seize them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place 1Heb Sela-hammahlekoththe Rock of Escape. 29 1Ch 24:1 in HebDavid went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of AJosh 15:62; 2 Chr 20:2Engedi.