1 Samuel 23:18-28

18 Both of them made a pledge in the LORD's presence. David stayed in Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

19 Then the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding with us in fortified camps at Horesh on the hills of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon.

20 Come, Your Majesty, whenever you want. We will hand him over to you."

21 Saul responded, "The LORD bless you for feeling sorry for me!

22 Please make more plans, and watch where he goes. Who has seen him there? I'm told he's very clever.

23 Watch and learn about all the hiding places where he may be hiding, and come back to me with the facts. Then I'll go with you, and if he's in the country, I'll search for him among all the families of Judah."

24 They left for Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plains south of Jeshimon.

25 When Saul and his men came to look for him, David was told the news. So he went to his mountain stronghold in the desert of Maon. Saul heard about it and pursued David into the desert of Maon.

26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, and Saul and his men were going around [the mountain] toward David and his men, trying to capture them.

27 Then a messenger came to Saul and said, "Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the country."

28 Saul gave up pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. So that place was called Slippery Rock.

1 Samuel 23:18-28 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.