Then they told David
, saying
, Behold, the Philistines
fight
against Keilah
, and they rob
the threshingfloors
.
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
.
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
?
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
And Saul called
all the people
together
to war
, to go down
to Keilah
, to besiege
David
and his men
.
And David knew
that Saul
secretly practised
mischief
against him; and he said
to Abiathar
the priest
, Bring hither
the ephod
.
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.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
And David saw
that Saul
was come out
to seek
his life
: and David
was in the wilderness
of Ziph
in a wood
.
And Jonathan Saul's
son
arose
, and went
to David
into the wood
, and strengthened
his hand
in God
.
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
.
And they two made
a covenant
before
the LORD
: and David
abode
in the wood
, and Jonathan
went
to his house
.
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
?
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
.
And Saul said
, Blessed
be ye of the LORD
; for ye have compassion
on me.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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.
But there came a messenger
unto Saul
, saying
, Haste
thee, and come
; for the Philistines
have invaded
the land
.
Wherefore Saul returned
from pursuing
after
David
, and went
against
the Philistines
: therefore they called
that place
Selahammahlekoth
.
And David went up
from thence, and dwelt
in strong holds
at Engedi
.