1Samuel23
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(1sa 23:1) Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
(1sa 23:2) Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
(1sa 23:3) And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
(1sa 23:4) Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
(1sa 23:5) So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
(1sa 23:6) And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, {that} he came down {with} an ephod in his hand.
(1sa 23:7) And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
(1sa 23:8) And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
(1sa 23:9) And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
(1sa 23:10) Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
(1sa 23:11) Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.
(1sa 23:12) Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver {thee} up.
(1sa 23:13) Then David and his men, which {were} about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
(1sa 23:14) And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
(1sa 23:15) And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David {was} in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
(1sa 23:16) And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
(1sa 23:17) And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
(1sa 23:18) And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
(1sa 23:19) Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which {is} on the south of Jeshimon?
(1sa 23:20) Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part {shall be} to deliver him into the king's hand.
(1sa 23:21) And Saul said, Blessed {be} ye of the Lord; for ye have compassion on me.
(1sa 23:22) Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, {and} who hath seen him there: for it is told me {that} he dealeth very subtilly.
(1sa 23:23) See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
(1sa 23:24) And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men {were} in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
(1sa 23:25) Saul also and his men went to seek {him}. And they told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard {that}, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
(1sa 23:26) And Saul 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 Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
(1sa 23:27) But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
(1sa 23:28) Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
(1sa 23:29) And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
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