1 Samuel 23 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] David was told, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.” ^[2] Therefore David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?”Yahweh said to David, “Go strike the Philistines, and save Keilah.” ^[3] David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” ^[4] Then David inquired of Yahweh yet again. Yahweh answered him, and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” ^[5] David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their livestock, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. ^[6] When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. ^[7] Saul was told that David had come to Keilah. Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars.” ^[8] Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. ^[9] David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” ^[10] Then David said, “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. ^[11] Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Yahweh, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant.”Yahweh said, “He will come down.” ^[12] Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”Yahweh said, “They will deliver you up.” ^[13] Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there. ^[14] David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand. ^[15] David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods. ^[16] Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God. ^[17] He said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.” ^[18] They both made a covenant before Yahweh. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house. ^[19] Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, 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 will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.” ^[21] Saul said, “You are blessed by Yahweh, for you have had compassion on me. ^[22] Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he is very cunning. ^[23] See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself; and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you. It shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.” ^[24] They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert. ^[25] Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. ^[26] Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them. ^[27] But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!” ^[28] So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.^ⓘ ^[29] David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

Footnotes

“Sela Hammahlekoth” means “rock of parting”.

King James Version

^[1] Then they toldH5046(HiphImpf) David,H1732 saying,H559(QalInf) Behold, the PhilistinesH6430 fightH3898(NiphPtc) against Keilah,H7084 and they robH8154(QalActPtc) the threshingfloors.H1637 ^[2] Therefore DavidH1732 enquiredH7592(QalImpf) of the Lord,H3068 saying,H559(QalInf) Shall I goH3212(QalImpf) and smiteH5221(HiphPerf) these Philistines?H6430 And the LordH3068 saidH559(QalImpf) unto David,H1732 Go,H3212(QalImpv) and smiteH5221(HiphPerf) the Philistines,H6430 and saveH3467(HiphPerf) Keilah.H7084 ^[3] And David’sH1732 menH582 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Behold, we be afraidH3373 here in Judah:H3063 how much more then if we comeH3212(QalImpf) to KeilahH7084 against the armiesH4634 of the Philistines?H6430 ^[4] Then DavidH1732 enquiredH7592(QalInf) of the LordH3068 yet again.H3254(HiphImpf) And the LordH3068 answeredH6030(QalImpf) him and said,H559(QalImpf) Arise,H6965(QalImpv) go downH3381(QalImpv) to Keilah;H7084 for I will deliverH5414(QalActPtc) the PhilistinesH6430 into thine hand.H3027 ^[5] So DavidH1732 and his menH582 wentH3212(QalImpf) to Keilah,H7084 and foughtH3898(NiphImpf) with the Philistines,H6430 and brought awayH5090(QalImpf) their cattle,H4735 and smoteH5221(HiphImpf) them with a greatH1419 slaughter.H4347 So DavidH1732 savedH3467(HiphImpf) the inhabitantsH3427(QalActPtc) of Keilah.H7084 ^[6] And it came to pass, when AbiatharH54 the sonH1121 of AhimelechH288 fledH1272(QalInf) to DavidH1732 to Keilah,H7084 [that] he came downH3381(QalPerf) [with] an ephodH646 in his hand.H3027 ^[7] And it was toldH5046(HophImpf) SaulH7586 that DavidH1732 was comeH935(QalPerf) to Keilah.H7084 And SaulH7586 said,H559(QalImpf) GodH430 hath deliveredH5234(PielPerf) him into mine hand;H3027 for he is shut in,H5462(NiphPerf) by enteringH935(QalInf) into a townH5892 that hath gatesH1817 and bars.H1280 ^[8] And SaulH7586 calledH8085 all the peopleH5971 togetherH8085(PielImpf) to war,H4421 to go downH3381(QalInf) to Keilah,H7084 to besiegeH6696(QalInf) DavidH1732 and his men.H582 ^[9] And DavidH1732 knewH3045(QalImpf) that SaulH7586 secretly practisedH2790(HiphPtc) mischiefH7451 against him; and he saidH559(QalImpf) to AbiatharH54 the priest,H3548 Bring hitherH5066(HiphImpv) the ephod.H646 ^[10] Then saidH559(QalImpf) David,H1732 O LordH3068 GodH430 of Israel,H3478 thy servantH5650 hath certainlyH8085(QalInf) heardH8085(QalPerf) that SaulH7586 seekethH1245(PielPtc) to comeH935(QalInf) to Keilah,H7084 to destroyH7843(PielInf) the cityH5892 for my sake. ^[11] Will the menH1167 of KeilahH7084 deliver me upH5462(HiphImpf) into his hand?H3027 will SaulH7586 come down,H3381(QalImpf) as thy servantH5650 hath heard?H8085(QalPerf) O LordH3068 GodH430 of Israel,H3478 I beseech thee, tellH5046(HiphImpv) thy servant.H5650 And the LordH3068 said,H559(QalImpf) He will come down.H3381(QalImpf) ^[12] Then saidH559(QalImpf) David,H1732 Will the menH1167 of KeilahH7084 deliverH5462(HiphImpf) me and my menH582 into the handH3027 of Saul?H7586 And the LordH3068 said,H559(QalImpf) They will deliver [thee] up.H5462(HiphImpf) ^[13] Then DavidH1732 and his men,H582 [which were] about sixH8337 hundred,H3967 aroseH6965(QalImpf) and departedH3318(QalImpf) out of Keilah,H7084 and wentH1980(HithImpf) whithersoeverH834 they could go.H1980(HithImpf) And it was toldH5046(HophPerf) SaulH7586 that DavidH1732 was escapedH4422(NiphPerf) from Keilah;H7084 and he forbareH2308(QalImpf) to go forth.H3318(QalInf) ^[14] And DavidH1732 abodeH3427(QalImpf) in the wildernessH4057 in strong holds,H4679 and remainedH3427(QalImpf) in a mountainH2022 in the wildernessH4057 of Ziph.H2128 And SaulH7586 soughtH1245(PielImpf) him every day,H3117 but GodH430 deliveredH5414(QalPerf) him not into his hand.H3027 ^[15] And DavidH1732 sawH7200(QalImpf) that SaulH7586 was come outH3318(QalPerf) to seekH1245(PielInf) his life:H5315 and DavidH1732 [was] in the wildernessH4057 of ZiphH2128 in a wood.H2793 ^[16] And JonathanH3083 Saul’sH7586 sonH1121 arose,H6965(QalImpf) and wentH3212(QalImpf) to DavidH1732 into the wood,H2793 and strengthenedH2388(PielImpf) his handH3027 in God.H430 ^[17] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, FearH3372(QalImpf) not: for the handH3027 of SaulH7586 my fatherH1 shall not findH4672(QalImpf) thee; and thou shalt be kingH4427(QalImpf) over Israel,H3478 and I shall be nextH4932 unto thee; and that also SaulH7586 my fatherH1 knoweth.H3045(QalActPtc) ^[18] And they twoH8147 madeH3772(QalImpf) a covenantH1285 beforeH6440 the Lord:H3068 and DavidH1732 abodeH3427(QalImpf) in the wood,H2793 and JonathanH3083 wentH1980(QalPerf) to his house.H1004 ^[19] Then came upH5927(QalImpf) the ZiphitesH2130 to SaulH7586 to Gibeah,H1390 saying,H559(QalInf) Doth not DavidH1732 hideH5641(HithPtc) himself with us in strong holdsH4679 in the wood,H2793 in the hillH1389 of Hachilah,H2444 which [is] on the southH3225 of Jeshimon?H3452 ^[20] Now therefore, O king,H4428 come downH3381(QalImpv) according to all the desireH185 of thy soulH5315 to come down;H3381(QalInf) and our part [shall be] to deliverH5462(HiphInf) him into the king’sH4428 hand.H3027 ^[21] And SaulH7586 said,H559(QalImpf) BlessedH1288(QalPasPtc) [be] ye of the Lord;H3068 for ye have compassionH2550(QalPerf) on me. ^[22] Go,H3212(QalImpv) I pray you, prepareH3559(HiphImpv) yet, and knowH3045(QalImpv) and seeH7200(QalImpv) his placeH4725 where his hauntH7272 is, [and] who hath seenH7200(QalPerf) him there: for it is toldH559(QalPerf) me [that] he dealeth veryH6191(QalInf) subtilly.H6191(HiphImpf) ^[23] SeeH7200(QalImpv) therefore, and take knowledgeH3045(QalImpv) of all the lurking placesH4224 where he hidethH2244(HithImpf) himself, and come ye againH7725(QalPerf) to me with the certainty,H3559(NiphPtc) and I will goH1980(QalPerf) with you: and it shall come to pass, if he beH3426 in the land,H776 that I will searchH2664(PielPerf) him out throughout all the thousandsH505 of Judah.H3063 ^[24] And they arose,H6965(QalImpf) and wentH3212(QalImpf) to ZiphH2128 beforeH6440 Saul:H7586 but DavidH1732 and his menH582 [were] in the wildernessH4057 of Maon,H4584 in the plainH6160 on the southH3225 of Jeshimon.H3452 ^[25] SaulH7586 also and his menH582 wentH3212(QalImpf) to seekH1245(PielInf) [him]. And they toldH5046(HiphImpf) David:H1732 wherefore he came downH3381(QalImpf) into a rock,H5553 and abodeH3427(QalImpf) in the wildernessH4057 of Maon.H4584 And when SaulH7586 heardH8085(QalImpf) [that], he pursuedH7291(QalImpf) afterH310 DavidH1732 in the wildernessH4057 of Maon.H4584 ^[26] And SaulH7586 wentH3212(QalImpf) on this sideH6654 of the mountain,H2022 and DavidH1732 and his menH582 on that sideH6654 of the mountain:H2022 and DavidH1732 made hasteH2648(NiphPtc) to get awayH3212(QalInf) for fearH6440 of Saul;H7586 for SaulH7586 and his menH582 compassedH5849 DavidH1732 and his menH582 round aboutH5849(QalActPtc) to takeH8610(QalInf) them. ^[27] But there cameH935(QalPerf) a messengerH4397 unto Saul,H7586 saying,H559(QalInf) HasteH4116(PielImpv) thee, and come;H3212(QalImpv) for the PhilistinesH6430 have invadedH6584(QalPerf) the land.H776 ^[28] Wherefore SaulH7586 returnedH7725(QalImpf) from pursuingH7291(QalInf) afterH310 David,H1732 and wentH3212(QalImpf) againstH7125(QalInf) the Philistines:H6430 therefore they calledH7121(QalPerf) that placeH4725 Selahammahlekoth.H5555 ^[29] And DavidH1732 went upH5927(QalImpf) from thence, and dweltH3427(QalImpf) in strong holdsH4679 at Engedi.H5872

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