1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel Chapter 23 KJV

1The Philistines fight against Keilah; David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, smiteth them, and saveth Keilah. 7Saul purposeth to besiege him at Keilah. 9God sheweth him of Saul's coming, and the treachery of the Keilites. 13He escapeth to Ziph, whither Jonathan cometh and comforteth him. 19The Ziphites discover him to Saul, who pursueth him closely in Maon, 27but is called off by an invasion of the Philistines. 29David dwelleth at En-gedi.
1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against 1Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2 Therefore David 1enquired 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, 1we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4 Then David 1enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for 2I 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 1fled 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, 1God 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, 1Bring 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 1destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will 1the 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 2the Lord said, He will come down.
12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah adeliver 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 1about 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 1in a mountain in the wilderness of 2Ziph. And 3Saul sought him every day, 4but 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 1Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and 2strengthened his hand in God.
17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father 1shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also 2Saul my father knoweth.
18 And 1they two made a covenant 2before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19 ¶ Then 1came up the Ziphites to Saul to 2Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in 3the hill of Hachilah, which is aon the south of bJeshimon?
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, 1Blessed 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 ahaunt 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 1will 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 1wilderness of Maon, in the plain on 2the south of Jeshimon.
25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down ainto 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 1haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men 2compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27 ¶ But 1there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; 2for the Philistines have ainvaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place aSela-hammahlekoth.
29 ¶ And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at 1En-gedi.
1 Samuel 23