| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.” | 1Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.” |
| 2Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” | 2So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” |
| 3But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” | 3But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” |
| 4Then David inquired of the LORD once again. And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” | 4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” |
| 5And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. | 5Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah. |
| 6Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand. | 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) |
| 7And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” | 7When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” |
| 8Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. | 8Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men. |
| 9When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” | 9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” |
| 10Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. | 10And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. |
| 11Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” | 11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. |
| 12Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver you.” | 12So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD. |
| 13So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition. | 13Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth. |
| 14And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. | 14And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand. |
| 15So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. | 15While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. |
| 16Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. | 16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, |
| 17And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” | 17saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” |
| 18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house. | 18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home. |
| 19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? | 19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? |
| 20Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.” | 20Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.” |
| 21And Saul said, “Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have compassion on me. | 21“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me. |
| 22Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty. | 22Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. |
| 23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides; and come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the clans of Judah.” | 23Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.” |
| 24So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. | 24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, |
| 25When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. | 25and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. |
| 26Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them. | 26Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. |
| 27But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!” | 27Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!” |
| 28Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape. | 28So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth. |
| 29Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. | 29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi. |
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