1 Samuel 23
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1Someone told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors."1When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,"
2David inquired of the LORD: "Shall I go and strike down these Philistines?" The LORD told David, "Go strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah."2he inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah."
3David's men told him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?"3But David's men said to him, "Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!"
4David inquired of the LORD again, and the LORD answered him: "Get up, go down to Keilah. I'll give the Philistines into your control."4Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, "Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand."
5David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. 5So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.
6Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him.6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
7It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, "The LORD has delivered him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars." 7Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, "God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars."
8Saul summoned for battle all his forces to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.8And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod."9When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod."
10David said, "LORD God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me. 10David said, "LORD, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me.
11Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? 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."11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will."
12Then David said, "Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?" The LORD said, "They'll hand you over." 12Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will."
13David 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. 13So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
14David 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 slip into Saul's control. 14David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
15David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 15While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life.
16Saul's son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust in God. 16And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.
17Jonathan 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." 17"Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this."
18The two of them made a covenant in the LORD's presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home.18The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
19People 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? 19The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon?
20Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king."20Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands."
21Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have been gracious to me. 21Saul replied, "The LORD bless you for your concern for me.
22Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is and who has seen him there, for people tell me that he's very clever. 22Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty.
23Investigate 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." 23Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah."
24The 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.24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.
25When Saul and his men went to search for David, some people told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. 25Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.
26Saul 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.26Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them,
27Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: "Come quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!" 27a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land."
28So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape. 28Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.
29 David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.
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1 Samuel 22
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