1Sa 23 | ABEn | STEP | And they reported to David, saying, Behold, the Philistines wage war in Keilah, and they tear in pieces the threshing-floors.

‏ 1 Samuel 23

CHAPTER 23 David Saves Keilah from the Philistines

1 And they reported to David, saying, Behold, the Philistines wage war in Keilah, and they tear in pieces the threshing-floors. 2 And David asked of the lord, saying, Shall I go and strike these Philistines? And the lord said to David, Go! and you shall strike the Philistines, and you shall deliver Keilah. 3 And [⁴said ¹the ²men ³of David] to him, Behold, we here in Judea fear. And how will it be if we should go into Keilah unto the valleys of the Philistines? 4 And David proceeded yet to ask of the lord. And [²answered ³him ¹the lord], and said to him, Rise up and go down unto Keilah! for I deliver up the Philistines into your hands. 5 And David went, and the men, the ones with him, unto Keilah. And he waged war against the Philistines, and they fled from his face. And he took away their cattle, and he struck them [²beating ¹with a great]. And David delivered the ones dwelling in Keilah. 6 And it came to pass in the fleeing of Abiathar the son of Ahimelech to David in Keilah, he came down having an ephod in his hand. 7 And it was reported to Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, [²has sold ³him ¹God] into my hands, for he is locked up, having entered into a city of doors and bars. 8 And Saul exhorted all the people to go down for war to Keilah, to band together against David and his men. 9 And David knew that [²did not ³remain silent ¹Saul] concerning him for evil. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod! 10 And David said, O lord, the God of Israel, in hearing hearken to your servant! for Saul seeks to come against Keilah, to utterly destroy the city on account of me. 11 Shall it be locked up? And now, shall Saul come down as [²heard ¹your servant], O lord, the God of Israel? Report to your servant! And the lord said, It shall be locked up. 12 And David said, Shall [⁴deliver up ¹the ones ²from ³Keilah] me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the lord said, They shall deliver up. 13 And David rose up, and his men -- about eight hundred. And they went forth from Keilah, and went where ever they could go. And it was reported to Saul that David went safe from Keilah, and he spared to come forth.

David Settles in the Wilderness

14 And David stayed in the wilderness, in the narrow passes, and settled in the mountain, in the wilderness of Ziph. And [²sought ³him ¹Saul] all the days. And [²did not ³deliver ⁴him ¹the lord] into his hands. 15 And David knew that Saul went forth to seek him. And David was in the wilderness Ziph in New. 16 And [⁴rose up ¹Jonathan ²son ³of Saul], and went to David in New. And he fortified his hands in the lord. 17 And he said to him, Do not fear! for in no way shall [⁵find you ¹the ²hand ³of Saul ⁴my father]. And you shall reign over Israel, and I will be to you for second. And Saul my father knows so. 18 And [²ordained ¹both] a covenant before the lord. And David settled in New, and Jonathan went forth to his house. 19 And [³ascended up ¹the ²Ziphites] to Saul, unto the hill, saying, Behold is not David hid by us in the narrows, in New, in the hill of Hachilah, of the place at the right of Jeshimon? 20 And now, every desire of the soul of the king, [²into ³the descent ¹let him go down] to us! They are being uncovered into the hands of the king. 21 And [²said ³to them ¹Saul], Being blessed are you to the lord, for you toiled on account of me. 22 You should go indeed and prepare yet, and know and see his place where [²is ¹his foot], quickly, there in that place of which you said, lest at any time he should trick you! 23 And look and know of all the places where he hides there! And return to me at ready! and I shall go with you. And it will be if he is in the land, that I shall search him out among all the thousands of Judah. 24 And [³rose up ¹the ²Ziphites], and went before Saul. And David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, to the west at the right of Jeshimon.

Saul Pursues David in the Wilderness

25 And Saul went and his men to seek David. And they reported to David. And he went down into the rock, the one in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard, and he pursued unto the wilderness of Maon after David. 26 And Saul went, and his men by the side of this mountain, and David and his men by the other side of this mountain. And David was sheltering to go from the face of Saul. And Saul and his men camped by David and his men -- to seize them. 27 And a messenger came to Saul saying, Hasten and come here, for the Philistines made an attack against the land. 28 And Saul returned to not pursue after David, and he went to meet the Philistines. On account of this [³is called ²place ¹that], [³Rock ¹The ²Portioned]. 29 And David ascended from there and settled in the narrows of En Gedi.