rd

1 Samuel 23

5 David chaseth the Philistíms from Keiláh. 13 David departeth from Keiláh, and remaineth in the wildernes of Ziph. 16 Jonathán comforteth David. 28 Saúls enterprise is broken in pursuing David.
1.Then they tolde David, saying, Beholde, the Philistíms fight against aKeiláh, and spoyle the barnes.
2.Therefore David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shal I go and smite these Philistíms? And the Lord answered David, Go and smite the Philistíms, and save Keiláh.
3.And Davids men said unto him, Se, we be afraied here in bJudah, how muche more if we come to Keiláh against the hoste of the Philistíms?
4.Then David asked counsel of the Lord againe. And the Lord answered him, and said, Arise, go downe to Keiláh: for I wil deliver the Philistíms into thine hand.
5.¶ So David and his men went to Keiláh, and foght with the Philistíms, & broght away theyr cattel, and smote them with a great slaughter: thus David saved the inhabitants of Keiláh.
6.(And when Abiathár the sonne of Ahimélech *fled to David to Keiláh, he broght an cEphód ^with him)
7.¶ And it was tolde Saúl that David was come to Keiláh, and Saúl said, God hathe delivered him into mine hand: for he is shut in, seing he is come into a citie that hathe gates and barres.
8.Then Saúl called all the people together to warre, for to go downe to Keiláh, and to besiege David and his men.
9.¶ And David having knowledge that Saúl imagined mischief against him, said to Abiathár the Priest, dBring the Ephód.
10.Then said David, O Lord God of Israél, thy servant hathe heard, that Saúl is about to come to Keiláh to destroy the citie for my sake.
11.Wil the lords of Keiláh deliver me up into his hand? and wil Saúl come downe, as thy servant hathe heard? O Lord God of Israél, I beseche thee, tel thy servant. And the Lord said, He wil come downe.
12.Then said David, Wil the ^lords of Keiláh deliver me up and the men that are with me, into the hand of Saúl? And the Lord said, They wil deliver thee up.
13.¶ Then David & his men, which were about six hundreth, arose, and departed out of Keiláh, and went ^whither they colde. And it was tolde Saúl, that David was fled from Keiláh, and he left of his journey.
14.And David abode in the wildernes in ^holdes, & remained in a mountaine in the wildernes of Ziph. And Saúl soght him everie day, but God edelivered him not into his hand.
15.And David sawe that Saúl was come out for to seke his life and David was in the wildernes of Ziph in the wood.
16.¶ And Jonathán Sauls sonne arose and went to David into the wood, and comforted ^him in God,
17.And said unto him, Feare not: for the hand of Saúl my father shal not finde thee, and thou shalt be fKing over Israél, & I shal be next unto thee, & also Saúl my father knoweth it.
18.So they twaine made a covenant before the Lord, and David did remaine in the wood: but Jonathán went to his house.
19.¶ Then came up the Ziphíms to Saúl to Gibeáh, saying, Doeth not David hide him selfe by us in holdes, in the wood in the hil of Hachiláh, which is on the right side ^of Jeshimon?
20.Now therefore ô King, come downe according to all that thine heart can desire, and our parte shalbe to deliver him into the Kings hands.
21.Then Saúl said, gBe ye blessed of the Lord: for ye have had compassion on me.
22.Go, I pray you, and prepare yet better: knowe and se his place where he ^hanteth, and who hathe sene him there: for it is said to me, He is subtile, and crafty.
23.Se therefore, and knowe all the secret places where he hideth him selfe, & come ye againe to me with the certentie, and I wil go with you: and if he be in the hland. I wil searche him out throughout all the thousands of Judáh.
24.Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saúl, but David and his men were in the wildernes of Maón, in the plaine on the right hand of Jeshimón.
25.Saúl also and his men went to seke him, and they tolde David: wherefore he came downe unto a rocke, and abode in the wildernes of iMaón. And when Saúl heard that, he followed after David in the wildernes of Maón.
26.And Saúl and his men went on the one side of the mountaine, and David and his men on the other side of the mountaine: and David made haste to get from the presence of Saúl: for Saúl and his men compassed David and his men round about, to take them.
27.But there came a kmessenger to Saúl, saying, Haste thee, and come: for the Philistíms have invaded the land.
28.Wherefore Saúl returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistíms. Therefore they called that place, lSela-hammáhlekoth.

Notes

1-a.
Which was a city in the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15.44.
3-b.
That is, in the midst of Judah, much more when we come to the borders against our enemies.
6-*.
Ch. 22.20.
6-^.
Ebr., in his hand.
6-c.
By God’s providence the Ephod was preserved and kept with David the true King.
9-d.
To consult with the Lord by Urim and Thummim. 2 Geneva Bible 1560
12-^.
Or, governors.
13-^.
Or, to and fro, as having no certain place to go to.
14-^.
Or, strong places.
14-e.
No power nor policy can prevail against God’s children, but when he appoints the time.
16-^.
Ebr., his hand.
17-f.
Jonathan assured David, that God will accomplish his promise and that his father strove against his own conscience.
19-^.
Or, of the wilderness.
21-g.
The Lord recompense this friendship.
22-^.
Ebr., where his foot has been.
23-h.
In your country of Ziph, which is in Judah.
25-i.
Which was also in the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15.55.
27-k.
Thus the Lord can pull back the bridel of the tyrants, and deliver his out of the lion’s mouth. 0
28-l.
That is, the stone of division, because there they divided them- selves one from another.