1 Samuel 23

1 David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors."

Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”

2 Therefore David inquired of YHWH, saying, "Shall I go and strike these Philistines?" Then YHWH replied, "Go strike the Philistines, and save Keilah."

So 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.”

3 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?"

But 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?”

4 Then David inquired of YHWH yet again. YHWH answered him, and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand."

Once 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.”

5 David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their livestock, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

Then 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.

6 It happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David, that he went down with David to Keilah, having an ephod in his hand.

(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. So Saul said, "God has sold him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering into a town that has gates and bars."

When 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.”

8 Then Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

9 David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."

When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

10 Then David said, "YHWH, God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

And 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.

11 And now, will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? YHWH, God of Israel, tell your servant." And YHWH said, "He will come down."

Will 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.

12 Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" YHWH said, "They will deliver you up."

So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. And Saul was told that David had escaped Keilah; so he gave up the pursuit.

Then 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.

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

And 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.

15 Now David was afraid that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.

16 Jonathan, Saul's son, set out and came to David at Horesh and encouraged him in YHWH.

And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,

17 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 next to you; and that also Saul my father knows."

saying, “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.”

18 They both made a covenant before YHWH: and David stayed at Horesh, and Jonathan went to his house.

So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Doesn't David hide himself with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

Then 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?

20 Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of your soul to come down. It will be our responsibility to deliver him up into the king's hand."

Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”

21 Saul said, "You are blessed by YHWH; for you have had compassion on me.

“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.

22 Please go investigate again, and look around and learn the place where his swift foot is, for I am told that he is very clever.

Please 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.

23 See therefore, and find out all the hiding places where he hides himself, and come back to me when you know for certain, and I will go with you. And it shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search for him among all the thousands of Judah."

Observe 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.”

24 They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of Jeshimon.

So 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,

25 Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.

and 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.

26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.

Saul 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.

27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come; for the Philistines have made a raid on the land."

Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”

28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Rock of Divisions.

So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.

29 David went up from there, and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

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