1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight
against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2 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.
3 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?
4 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.
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. So David saved the
inhabitants of Keilah.
6 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.
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, by entering into a town that
hath gates and bars.
8 And
Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege
David and his men.
9 And
David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to
Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 And
David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in
the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16 And
Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened
his hand in God.
17 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.
18 And
they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and
Jonathan went to his house.
19 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?
20 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.
21 And
Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion
on me.
22 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.
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 But
there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the
Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore
Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines:
therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
29 And
David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
