17
He said to him, Don't be afraid; for the hand of Sha'ul my father shall not find you; and you shall be king over Yisra'el, and I shall be next to you; and that also Sha'ul my father knows.
18
They two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Yonatan went to his house.
19
Then came up the Zifim to Sha'ul to Gevah, saying, Doesn't David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hakhilah, which is on the south of the desert
20
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king's hand.
21
Sha'ul said, Blessed be you of the LORD; for you have had compassion on me
22
Plesease go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, [and] who has seen him there; for it is told me that he deals very subtly.
23
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hides himself, and come you again to me of a certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall happen, if he be in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Yehudah.
24
They arose, and went to Zif before Sha'ul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Ma`on, in the `Aravah on the south of the desert.
25
Sha'ul and his men went to seek him. They told David: why he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Ma`on. When Sha'ul heard [that], he pursued after David in the wilderness of Ma`on.
26
Sha'ul 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 Sha'ul; for Sha'ul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27
But there came a messenger to Sha'ul, saying, Haste you, and come; for the Pelishtim have made a raid on the land.