1 Samuel 23:1-18 ▼

1 And they declared to David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are plundering the threshing floors.”

2 And David inquired of YHWH, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And YHWH said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

3 And the men of David said to him, “Behold, we here in Judah are afraid, and how much more when we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”

4 And David once again inquired of YHWH, and YHWH answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I am giving the Philistines into your hand.”

5 And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and he led away their livestock and struck them with a mighty blow. And David saved those dwelling in Keilah.

6 (And it came to pass, when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, that an ephod came down in his hand.)

7 And it was told to Saul that David had gone to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”

8 And Saul called together all the people for war to go down to Keilah to lay siege to David and his men.

9 And David knew that Saul was devising evil against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring near the ephod.”

10 And David said, “O YHWH, God of Israel, Your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.

11 Will the men of Keilah shut me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O YHWH, God of Israel, declare, please, to Your servant.” And YHWH said, “He will come down.”

12 And David said, “Will the men of Keilah shut up me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And YHWH said, “They will shut you up.”

13 And David and his men arose, about six hundred men, and they went out from Keilah, and they went about in wherever they could go about. And to Saul it was declared that David had escaped from Keilah. And he ceased to go out.

14 And David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, and God did not deliver him into his hand.

15 And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh.

16 And Jonathan son of Saul arose and went to David in Horesh, and he strengthened his hand in God.

17 And he said to him, “Do not be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. And You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be to you for a second. Even thus knows Saul my father.”

18 And the two of them cut a covenant before the face of YHWH. And David stayed in Horesh, and Jonathan went to his own house.