2
Therefore Davidenquired of the LORD,saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORDsaid unto David,Go, and smite the Philistines, and saveKeilah.
4
Then Davidenquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORDanswered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5
So David and his menwent to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a greatslaughter. So Davidsaved the inhabitants of Keilah.
7
And it was toldSaul that David was come to Keilah. And Saulsaid, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
11
Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORDGod of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORDsaid, He will come down.
13
Then David and his men, which were about sixhundred*, arose and departed out of Keilah, and wentwhithersoever they could go. And it was toldSaul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14
And Davidabode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saulsought him every day, but Goddelivered him not into his hand.
17
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 fatherknoweth.
19
Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah,saying, Doth not Davidhide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
22
Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth verysubtilly.
23
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again 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 throughout all the thousands of Judah.
25
Saul also and his menwent to seek him. And they toldDavid: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saulheard that, he pursuedafterDavid in the wilderness of Maon.
26
And Saulwent 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 mencompassedDavid and his men round about to take them.