Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 It was reported to David: "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors."
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Now they told David, "Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Kei'lah, and are robbing the threshing floors."
2 So David inquired of the Lord: "Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?" The Lord answered David, "Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah."
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Therefore David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the LORD said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Kei'lah."
3 But David's men said to him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!"
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But David's men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Kei'lah against the armies of the Philistines?"
4 Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him: "Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.
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Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, "Arise, go down to Kei'lah; for I will give the Philistines into your hand.
5 Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.
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And David and his men went to Kei'lah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter among them. So David delivered the inhabitants of Kei'lah.
6 Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
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When Abi'athar the son of Ahim'elech fled to David to Kei'lah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7 When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, "God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates."
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Now it was told Saul that David had come to Kei'lah. And Saul said, "God has given him into my hand; for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars."
8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
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And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Kei'lah, to besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod."
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David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to Abi'athar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."
10 Then David said, "Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.
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Then said David, "O LORD, the God of Israel, thy servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Kei'lah, to destroy the city on my account.
11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Your servant." The Lord answered, "He will come down."
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Will the men of Kei'lah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down."
12 Then David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?" "They will," the Lord responded.
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Then said David, "Will the men of Kei'lah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will surrender you."
13 So David and his men, numbering about 600, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition.
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Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Kei'lah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Kei'lah, he gave up the expedition.
14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.
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And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand
15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.
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And David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.
16 Then Saul's son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in [his faith in] God,
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And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose, and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
17 saying, "Don't be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I'll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true."
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And he said to him, "Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; Saul my father also knows this."
18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord's presence. Afterwards, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
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And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
19 Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon.
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Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gib'e-ah, saying, "Does not David hide among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachi'lah, which is south of Jeshi'mon
20 Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king."
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Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand."
21 "May you be blessed by the Lord," replied Saul, "for you have taken pity on me
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And Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD; for you have had compassion on me
22 Go and check again. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning.
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Go, make yet more sure; know and see the place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for it is told me that he is very cunning.
23 Look and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I'll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I'll search for him among all the clans of Judah."
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See therefore, and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah."
24 So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,
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And they arose, and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Ma'on, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshi'mon.
25 and Saul and his men went to look for [him]. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.
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And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told; therefore he went down to the rock which is in the wilderness of Ma'on. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Ma'on.
26 Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
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Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was making haste to get away from Saul, as Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to capture them,
27 Then a messenger came to Saul saying, "Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!"
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when a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Make haste and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land."
28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation.
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So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.
29 From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.
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And David went up from there, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-ge'di.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.