1 Samuel 23:10-20

10 et ait David Domine Deus Israhel audivit famam servus tuus quod disponat Saul venire ad Ceila ut evertat urbem propter me

11 si tradent me viri Ceila in manus eius et si descendet Saul sicut audivit servus tuus Domine Deus Israhel indica servo tuo et ait Dominus descendet

12 dixitque David si tradent viri Ceilae me et viros qui sunt mecum in manu Saul et dixit Dominus tradent

13 surrexit ergo David et viri eius quasi sescenti et egressi de Ceila huc atque illuc vagabantur incerti nuntiatumque est Saul quod fugisset David de Ceila quam ob rem dissimulavit exire

14 morabatur autem David in deserto in locis firmissimis mansitque in monte solitudinis Ziph quaerebat tamen eum Saul cunctis diebus et non tradidit eum Deus in manus eiu

15 et vidit David quod egressus esset Saul ut quaereret animam eius porro David erat in deserto Ziph in silva

16 et surrexit Ionathan filius Saul et abiit ad David in silva et confortavit manus eius in Deo dixitque ei

17 ne timeas neque enim inveniet te manus Saul patris mei et tu regnabis super Israhel et ego ero tibi secundus sed et Saul pater meus scit hoc

18 percussit igitur uterque foedus coram Domino mansitque David in silva Ionathas autem reversus est in domum suam

19 ascenderunt autem Ziphei ad Saul in Gabaa dicentes nonne David latitat apud nos in locis tutissimis silvae in colle Achilae quae est ad dexteram desert

20 nunc ergo sicut desideravit anima tua ut descenderes descende nostrum autem erit ut tradamus eum in manus regis

1 Samuel 23:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 23

This chapter gives an account of David's relieving Keilah, when it had like to have fallen into the hands of the Philistines, 1Sa 23:1-6; and of Saul's design to surprise him there, which David having notice of, and inquiring of the Lord, departed from thence; which when Saul heard of, he forbore to come forth, 1Sa 23:7-13; and of David's being in the wilderness of Ziph, where, in a wood there, he had an interview with Jonathan, 1Sa 23:14-18; and of the Ziphites offering to deliver him up to Saul, for which he commends them, and gives them instructions how they should behave to him in that affair, 1Sa 23:19-23; and of his seeking him in the wilderness of Maon, where David and his men were in great danger of being taken; which was prevented by the news of the Philistines invading the land coming to Saul just at the nick of time, 1Sa 23:24-29.