1 Samuel 23:17-29 ▼

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.

19 And the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding with us in the strongholds in Horesh, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

20 And now according to all the desire of your soul, O king, to come down, come down, and to us is to enclose him into the hand of the king.”

21 And Saul said, “Blessed are you? of YHWH, for you? have had compassion on me.

22 Go, please, prepare further, and know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there. For it is told to me he is extremely cunning.

23 And see and know of all of the hiding 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 thousands of Judah.”

24 And they arose and went to Ziph before the face of Saul. And David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

25 And Saul and his men went to seek him, and they declared to David. And he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard and pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon.

26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on this side of the mountain. And David made haste to get away from Saul, and Saul and his men were encircling upon David and his men to capture them.

27 And a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have pushed against the land.”

28 And Saul returned from pursuing after David, and he went against the Philistines. Upon thus they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

29 And David went up from there and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi.