1Samuel 23

1 Someone ^{a23:1 Lit. They} told David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:1

2 David inquired of the LORD: “Shall I go and strike down these Philistines?” The LORD told David, “Go strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:2

3 David’s men told him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?”ISV — 1Samuel 23:3

4 David inquired of the LORD again, and the LORD answered him: “Get up, go down to Keilah. I’ll give the Philistines into your control.” ^{b23:4 Lit. hand}ISV — 1Samuel 23:4

5 David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, ^{c23:5 Lit. struck them down with a great slaughter} and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.ISV — 1Samuel 23:5

6 Now when Ahimelech’s son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod ^{d23:6 The ephod was a type of vest normally worn by the priests.} had come down with him.ISV — 1Samuel 23:6

7 It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, “The LORD has delivered ^{e23:7 So with LXX} him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:7

8 Saul summoned for battle all his forces ^{f23:8 Lit. all the people} to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.ISV — 1Samuel 23:8

9 David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:9

10 David said, “LORD God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me.ISV — 1Samuel 23:10

11 Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? ^{g23:11 Lit. into his hand} Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? LORD God of Israel, please inform your servant.” The LORD said, “He will come down.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:11

12 Then David said, “Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?” ^{h23:12 Lit. into Saul’s hand} The LORD said, “They’ll hand you over.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:12

13 David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign. ^{i23:13 Lit. stopped going out}ISV — 1Samuel 23:13

14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and he lived in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not let David ^{j23:14 Lit. him} slip into Saul’s ^{k23:14 Lit. his} control.ISV — 1Samuel 23:14

15 David was afraid because ^{l23:15 Or David saw that} Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.ISV — 1Samuel 23:15

16 Saul’s son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust ^{m23:16 Lit. he strengthened his hand} in God.ISV — 1Samuel 23:16

17 Jonathan told him, “Don’t be afraid. My father Saul won’t find you, and you will be king over Israel. I’ll be your second-in-command. My father Saul also knows this.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:17

18 The two of them made a covenant ^{n23:18 Or agreement} in the LORD’s presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home.ISV — 1Samuel 23:18

19 People from Ziph came up to Saul at Gibeah and informed him, “David is hiding with us in the strongholds in Horesh and on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon, isn’t he?ISV — 1Samuel 23:19

20 Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, ^{o23:20 Lit. according to your desire to come down} come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:20

21 Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have been gracious to me.ISV — 1Samuel 23:21

22 Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is ^{p23:22 Lit. his place where his foot is} and who has seen him there, for people tell me that he’s very clever.ISV — 1Samuel 23:22

23 Investigate and find out all the hiding places there where he hides, and return to me with reliable information. Then I’ll go down with you, and if he’s in the land, I’ll search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”ISV — 1Samuel 23:23

24 The people from Ziph got up and left Saul, while David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.ISV — 1Samuel 23:24

25 When Saul and his men went to search for David, ^{q23:25 The Heb. lacks for David} some people ^{r23:25 Lit. David, they} told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape ^{s23:25 The Heb. lacks of Escape; cf. v.28} and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon.ISV — 1Samuel 23:25

26 Saul went on one side of the mountain while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul while Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.ISV — 1Samuel 23:26

27 Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: “Come quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”ISV — 1Samuel 23:27

28 So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape.ISV — 1Samuel 23:28

29 ^{t23:29 This v. is 24:1 in MT} David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.ISV — 1Samuel 23:29