1 Then they told{H5046}{(H8686)} David{H1732}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold, the Philistines{H6430} fight{H3898}{(H8737)} against Keilah{H7084}, and they rob{H8154}{(H8802)} the threshingfloors{H1637}.

2 Therefore David{H1732} enquired{H7592}{(H8799)} of the LORD{H3068}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Shall I go{H3212}{(H8799)} and smite{H5221}{(H8689)} these Philistines{H6430}? And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto David{H1732}, Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, and smite{H5221}{(H8689)} the Philistines{H6430}, and save{H3467}{(H8689)} Keilah{H7084}.

3 And David's{H1732} men{H582} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Behold, we be afraid{H3373} here in Judah{H3063}: how much more then if we come{H3212}{(H8799)} to Keilah{H7084} against the armies{H4634} of the Philistines{H6430}?

4 Then David{H1732} enquired{H7592}{(H8800)} of the LORD{H3068} yet again{H3254}{(H8686)}. And the LORD{H3068} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} him and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Arise{H6965}{(H8798)}, go down{H3381}{(H8798)} to Keilah{H7084}; for I will deliver{H5414}{(H8802)} the Philistines{H6430} into thine hand{H3027}.

5 So David{H1732} and his men{H582} went{H3212}{(H8799)} to Keilah{H7084}, and fought{H3898}{(H8735)} with the Philistines{H6430}, and brought away{H5090}{(H8799)} their cattle{H4735}, and smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them with a great{H1419} slaughter{H4347}. So David{H1732} saved{H3467}{(H8686)} the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Keilah{H7084}.

6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar{H54} the son{H1121} of Ahimelech{H288} fled{H1272}{(H8800)} to David{H1732} to Keilah{H7084}, that he came down{H3381}{(H8804)} with an ephod{H646} in his hand{H3027}.

7 And it was told{H5046}{(H8714)} Saul{H7586} that David{H1732} was come{H935}{(H8804)} to Keilah{H7084}. And Saul{H7586} said{H559}{(H8799)}, God{H430} hath delivered{H5234}{(H8765)} him into mine hand{H3027}; for he is shut in{H5462}{(H8738)}, by entering{H935}{(H8800)} into a town{H5892} that hath gates{H1817} and bars{H1280}.

8 And Saul{H7586} called{H8085} all the people{H5971} together{H8085}{(H8762)} to war{H4421}, to go down{H3381}{(H8800)} to Keilah{H7084}, to besiege{H6696}{(H8800)} David{H1732} and his men{H582}.

9 And David{H1732} knew{H3045}{(H8799)} that Saul{H7586} secretly practised{H2790}{(H8688)} mischief{H7451} against him; and he said{H559}{(H8799)} to Abiathar{H54} the priest{H3548}, Bring hither{H5066}{(H8685)} the ephod{H646}.

10 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} David{H1732}, O LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, thy servant{H5650} hath certainly{H8085}{(H8800)} heard{H8085}{(H8804)} that Saul{H7586} seeketh{H1245}{(H8764)} to come{H935}{(H8800)} to Keilah{H7084}, to destroy{H7843}{(H8763)} the city{H5892} for my sake.

11 Will the men{H1167} of Keilah{H7084} deliver me up{H5462}{(H8686)} into his hand{H3027}? will Saul{H7586} come down{H3381}{(H8799)}, as thy servant{H5650} hath heard{H8085}{(H8804)}? O LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, I beseech thee, tell{H5046}{(H8685)} thy servant{H5650}. And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)}, He will come down{H3381}{(H8799)}.

12 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} David{H1732}, Will the men{H1167} of Keilah{H7084} deliver{H5462}{(H8686)} me and my men{H582} into the hand{H3027} of Saul{H7586}? And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)}, They will deliver thee up{H5462}{(H8686)}.

13 Then David{H1732} and his men{H582}, which were about six{H8337} hundred{H3967}{H376}, arose{H6965}{(H8799)} and departed{H3318}{(H8799)} out of Keilah{H7084}, and went{H1980}{(H8691)} whithersoever{H834} they could go{H1980}{(H8691)}. And it was told{H5046}{(H8717)} Saul{H7586} that David{H1732} was escaped{H4422}{(H8738)} from Keilah{H7084}; and he forbare{H2308}{(H8799)} to go forth{H3318}{(H8800)}.

14 And David{H1732} abode{H3427}{(H8799)} in the wilderness{H4057} in strong holds{H4679}, and remained{H3427}{(H8799)} in a mountain{H2022} in the wilderness{H4057} of Ziph{H2128}. And Saul{H7586} sought{H1245}{(H8762)} him every day{H3117}, but God{H430} delivered{H5414}{(H8804)} him not into his hand{H3027}.

15 And David{H1732} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that Saul{H7586} was come out{H3318}{(H8804)} to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} his life{H5315}: and David{H1732} was in the wilderness{H4057} of Ziph{H2128} in a wood{H2793}.

16 And Jonathan{H3083} Saul's{H7586} son{H1121} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} to David{H1732} into the wood{H2793}, and strengthened{H2388}{(H8762)} his hand{H3027} in God{H430}.

17 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Fear{H3372}{(H8799)} not: for the hand{H3027} of Saul{H7586} my father{H1} shall not find{H4672}{(H8799)} thee; and thou shalt be king{H4427}{(H8799)} over Israel{H3478}, and I shall be next{H4932} unto thee; and that also Saul{H7586} my father{H1} knoweth{H3045}{(H8802)}.

18 And they two{H8147} made{H3772}{(H8799)} a covenant{H1285} before{H6440} the LORD{H3068}: and David{H1732} abode{H3427}{(H8799)} in the wood{H2793}, and Jonathan{H3083} went{H1980}{(H8804)} to his house{H1004}.

19 Then came up{H5927}{(H8799)} the Ziphites{H2130} to Saul{H7586} to Gibeah{H1390}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Doth not David{H1732} hide{H5641}{(H8693)} himself with us in strong holds{H4679} in the wood{H2793}, in the hill{H1389} of Hachilah{H2444}, which is on the south{H3225} of Jeshimon{H3452}?

20 Now therefore, O king{H4428}, come down{H3381}{(H8798)} according to all the desire{H185} of thy soul{H5315} to come down{H3381}{(H8800)}; and our part shall be to deliver{H5462}{(H8687)} him into the king's{H4428} hand{H3027}.

21 And Saul{H7586} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be ye of the LORD{H3068}; for ye have compassion{H2550}{(H8804)} on me.

22 Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, I pray you, prepare{H3559}{(H8685)} yet, and know{H3045}{(H8798)} and see{H7200}{(H8798)} his place{H4725} where his haunt{H7272} is, and who hath seen{H7200}{(H8804)} him there: for it is told{H559}{(H8804)} me that he dealeth very{H6191}{(H8800)} subtilly{H6191}{(H8686)}.

23 See{H7200}{(H8798)} therefore, and take knowledge{H3045}{(H8798)} of all the lurking places{H4224} where he hideth{H2244}{(H8691)} himself, and come ye again{H7725}{(H8804)} to me with the certainty{H3559}{(H8737)}, and I will go{H1980}{(H8804)} with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be{H3426} in the land{H776}, that I will search{H2664}{(H8765)} him out throughout all the thousands{H505} of Judah{H3063}.

24 And they arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} to Ziph{H2128} before{H6440} Saul{H7586}: but David{H1732} and his men{H582} were in the wilderness{H4057} of Maon{H4584}, in the plain{H6160} on the south{H3225} of Jeshimon{H3452}.

25 Saul{H7586} also and his men{H582} went{H3212}{(H8799)} to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} him. And they told{H5046}{(H8686)} David{H1732}: wherefore he came down{H3381}{(H8799)} into a rock{H5553}, and abode{H3427}{(H8799)} in the wilderness{H4057} of Maon{H4584}. And when Saul{H7586} heard{H8085}{(H8799)} that, he pursued{H7291}{(H8799)} after{H310} David{H1732} in the wilderness{H4057} of Maon{H4584}.

26 And Saul{H7586} went{H3212}{(H8799)} on this side{H6654} of the mountain{H2022}, and David{H1732} and his men{H582} on that side{H6654} of the mountain{H2022}: and David{H1732} made haste{H2648}{(H8737)} to get away{H3212}{(H8800)} for fear{H6440} of Saul{H7586}; for Saul{H7586} and his men{H582} compassed{H5849} David{H1732} and his men{H582} round about{H5849}{(H8802)} to take{H8610}{(H8800)} them.

27 But there came{H935}{(H8804)} a messenger{H4397} unto Saul{H7586}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Haste{H4116}{(H8761)} thee, and come{H3212}{(H8798)}; for the Philistines{H6430} have invaded{H6584}{(H8804)} the land{H776}.

28 Wherefore Saul{H7586} returned{H7725}{(H8799)} from pursuing{H7291}{(H8800)} after{H310} David{H1732}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} the Philistines{H6430}: therefore they called{H7121}{(H8804)} that place{H4725} Selahammahlekoth{H5555}.

29 And David{H1732} went up{H5927}{(H8799)} from thence, and dwelt{H3427}{(H8799)} in strong holds{H4679} at Engedi{H5872}.