1Samuel 23

1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:1

2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:2

3 And David’ men said to him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?AKJV — 1Samuel 23:3

4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:4

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.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:5

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.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:6

7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God has delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:7

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:8

9 And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:9

10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:10

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:11

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 you up.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:12

13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he declined to go forth.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:13

14 And David stayed 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.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:14

15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:15

16 And Jonathan Saul’ son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:16

17 And he said to him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; and that also Saul my father knows.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:17

18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David stayed in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:18

19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?AKJV — 1Samuel 23:19

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’ hand.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:20

21 And Saul said, Blessed be you of the LORD; for you have compassion on me.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:21

22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there: for it is told me that he deals very subtly.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:22

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come you 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.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:23

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.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:24

25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; why he came down into a rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:25

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.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:26

27 But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste you, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:27

28 Why Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:28

29 And David went up from there, and dwelled in strong holds at Engedi.AKJV — 1Samuel 23:29