1 Samuel 23

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

And they told David, saying: 'Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they rob 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."

Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying: 'Shall I go and smite these Philistines?' And the LORD said unto David: 'Go, and smite 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?"

And David's men said unto him: 'Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then 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."

Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said: 'Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thy 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.

And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and slew them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants 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.

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

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."

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said: 'God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.'

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

And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to 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."

And David knew that Saul devised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest: 'Bring hither 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.

Then said David: 'O LORD, the God of Israel, Thy servant hath surely heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

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 men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as Thy servant hath heard?' O LORD, the God of Israel, I beseech Thee, tell Thy servant.' And the LORD said: 'He will come down.'

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."

Then said David: 'Will the men of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul?' And the LORD said: 'They will deliver thee up.'

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, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbore 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 abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not 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.

And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life; and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.

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

And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, 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."

And he said unto him: 'Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.'

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

And they two made a covenant before the LORD; and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

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 came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying: 'Doth not David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the 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 therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king's hand.'

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

And Saul said: 'Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye 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.

Go, I pray you, make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there; for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly.

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."

See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, and come ye back to me with the certainty, and I will go with you; and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands 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.

And 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.

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. And they told David; wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

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.

And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

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

But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying: 'Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon 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 returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.

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

And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi.