1 THEN they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16 And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
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.
18 And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
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?
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.
21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord; for ye have compassion on me.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.

1Then they told Dauid, saying, Beholde, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floores.

2Therefore Dauid enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said vnto Dauid, Goe, and smite the Philistines, and saue Keilah.

3And Dauids men said vnto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Iudah: how much more then if wee come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

4Then Dauid enquired of the Lord yet againe: And the Lord answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliuer the Philistines into thine hand.

5So Dauid and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistins, and brought away their cattell, and smote them with a great slaughter: so Dauid saued the inhabitants of Keilah.

6And it came to passe when Abiathar the sonne of Ahimelech fled to Dauid to Keilah, that hee came downe with an Ephod in his hand.

7 And it was told Saul that Dauid was come to Keilah: and Saul said, God hath deliuered him into mine hand: for he is shut in, by entring into a towne that hath gates and barres.

8And Saul called all the people together to warre, to goe downe to Keilah, to besiege Dauid, and his men.

9 And Dauid knewe that Saul secretly practised mischiefe against him, and hee said to Abiathar the Priest, Bring hither the Ephod.

10Then saide Dauid, O Lord God of Israel, thy seruant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the citie for my sake.

11Will the men of Keilah deliuer me vp into his hande? will Saul come downe, as thy seruant hath heard, O Lord God of Israel? I beseech thee tell thy seruant. And the Lord said, He will come downe.

12Then said Dauid, Will the men of Keilah deliuer me, and my men, into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliuer thee vp.

13 Then Dauid and his men, which were about sixe hundred, arose, and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoeuer they could goe: and it was told Saul that Dauid was escaped from Keilah, and hee forbare to goe foorth.

14And Dauid abode in the wildernesse in strong holds, and remained in a mountaine in the wildernes of Ziph: and Saul sought him euery day, but God deliuered him not into his hand.

15And Dauid saw that Saul was come out to seeke his life: and Dauid was in the wildernes of Ziph in a wood.

16 And Ionathan Sauls sonne arose, & went to Dauid into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

17And he said vnto him, Feare not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not finde thee, and thou shalt be king ouer Israel, and I shall be next vnto thee: and that also Saul my father knoweth.

18And they two made a couenant before the Lord: and Dauid abode in the wood, and Ionathan went to his house.

19 Then came vp the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not Dauid hide himselfe with vs in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the South of Ieshimon?

20Now therefore, O king, come downe according to all the desire of thy soule to come downe, and our part shall be to deliuer him into the kings hand.

21And Saul said, Blessed be yee of the Lord, for yee haue compassion on me.

22Goe, I pray you, prepare yet, and know, and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seene him there: for it is told mee that he dealeth very subtilly.

23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himselfe, and come ye againe to me with the certainty, and I will goe with you: and it shall come to passe, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Iudah.

24And they arose, & went to Ziph before Saul: but Dauid and his men were in the wildernesse of Maon, in the plaine on the South of Ieshimon.

25Saul also and his men went to seeke him, and they told Dauid: wherefore he came downe into a rocke, and abode in the wildernesse of Maon: and when Saul heard that, he pursued after Dauid in the wildernes of Maon.

26And Saul went on this side of the mountaine, and Dauid and his men on that side of the mountaine: and Dauid made haste to get away for feare of Saul: for Saul and his men compassed Dauid and his men round about to take them.

27 But there came a messenger vnto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come: for the Philistines haue inuaded the land.

28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after Dauid, & went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-Hammahlekoth.

29 And Dauid went vp from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.

I == Josh 15:44

 

II == 1st sam 12:4 , 6 , 9 ; 30:8 ; 2nd Sam 5:19 , 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == 1st Sam 22:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Num 27:21 ; 1st Sam 30:7

 

X == 1st Sam 22:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == 1st Sam 22:2 ; 25:13

 

 

 

 

XIV == Josh 15:55 ; Ps 11:1 ; 54:3-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == 1st6 Sam 24:20

 

 

XVIII == 1st Sam 18:3 ; 20:16 , 42 ; 2nd Sam 21:7

XIX == 1st Sam 26:1

 

XX == Ps 54:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIV == Josh 15:55 ; 1st Sam 25:2

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Ps 17:9 ; 31:22

 

 

 

XXVII == 2nd Kings 19:9

 

 

 

 

XXIX == 2nd Chr 20:2

1 David received information that the Philistines were attacking Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.

2 So he consulted the LORD, inquiring, "Shall I go and defeat these Philistines?" The LORD answered, "Go, for you will defeat the Philistines and rescue Keilah."

3 But David's men said to him: "We are afraid here in Judah. How much more so if we go to Keilah against the forces of the Philistines!"

4 Again David consulted the LORD, who answered, "Go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your power."

5 David then went with his men to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He drove off their cattle and inflicted a severe defeat on them, and thus rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, who had fled to David, went down with David to Keilah, taking the ephod with him.

7 When Saul was told that David had entered Keilah, he said: "God has put him in my grip. Now he has shut himself in, for he has entered a city with gates and bars."

8 Saul then called all the people to war, in order to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.

9 When David found out that Saul was planning to harm him, he said to the priest Abiathar, "Bring forward the ephod."

10 David then said: "O LORD God of Israel, your servant has heard a report that Saul plans to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account.

11 Will they hand me over? And now: will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, tell your servant." The LORD answered, "He will come down."

12 David then asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah deliver me and my men into the grasp of Saul?" And the LORD answered, "Yes."

13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and wandered from place to place. When Saul was informed that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandoned the expedition.

14 David now lived in the refuges in the desert, or in the barren hill country near Ziph. Though Saul sought him continually, the LORD did not deliver David into his grasp.

15 David was apprehensive because Saul had come out to seek his life; but while he was at Horesh in the barrens near Ziph,

16 Saul's son, Jonathan, came down there to David and strengthened his resolve in the LORD.

17 He said to him: "Have no fear, my father Saul shall not lay a hand to you. You shall be king of Israel and I shall be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this."

18 They made a joint agreement before the LORD in Horesh, where David remained, while Jonathan returned to his home.

19 Some of the Ziphites went up to Saul in Gibeah and said, "David is hiding among us, now in the refuges, and again at Horesh, or on the hill of Hachilah, south of the wasteland.

20 Therefore, whenever the king wishes to come down, let him do so. It will be our task to deliver him into the king's grasp."

21 Saul replied: "The LORD bless you for your sympathy toward me.

22 Go now and make sure once more! Take note of the place where he sets foot" (for he thought, perhaps they are playing some trick on me).

23 "Look around and learn in which of all the various hiding places he is holding out. Then come back to me with sure information, and I will go with you. If he is in the region, I will search him out among all the families of Judah."

24 So they went off to Ziph ahead of Saul. At this time David and his men were in the desert below Maon, in the Arabah south of the wasteland.

25 When Saul and his men came looking for him, David got word of it and went down to the gorge in the desert below Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David into the desert below Maon.

26 As Saul moved along one rim of the gorge, David and his men took to the other. David was in anxious flight to escape Saul, and Saul and his men were attempting to outflank David and his men in order to capture them,

27 when a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly, because the Philistines have invaded the land."

28 Saul interrupted his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. This is how that place came to be called the Gorge of Divisions.

v 1-6. Saul was eager to pursue David, but he was lax in protecting his borders against the Philistines. David was concerned by the invasion and looting by the Philistines, so he inquired of God through the prophet Gad if he should attack. Those with him were fearful, so he inquired again, with the result that he slaughtered many Philistines and took their cattle. It was while at Keilah that Abiathar came to him.

v 7-12. When Saul heard David was at Keilah, he thought to surround the city and capture him. Now with Abiathar the priest and the ephod, David inquired of the Lord if the inhabitants of Keilah would turn him over to Saul. He found that the ungrateful people of Keilah would reward his rescue of them by turning him over to Saul.

v 13-15. David’s men now numbered about 600 and they sought hiding in the forest wilderness of Ziph. When Saul learned he had fled Keilah, he didn’t go there, but still looked for him daily.

v 16-18. Jonathan came seeking David for the purpose of giving him spiritual encouragement. He assured him that Saul wouldn’t find him and he would end up being king. Such had become the evil mind of Saul that he continued looking for him even though he knew David was God’s anointed successor to him. This is the third time Jonathan and David entered this covenant of friendship. Jonathan had hopes to be next unto David in his kingdom, but this was not in God’s plan. They never met again and Jonathan died in battle.

v 19-21. Without any promise of punishment or reward from Saul, the people of Ziph went to Saul and volunteered to turn David over to him. These were people of David’s own tribe, who he would not have looted but protected. Even Judas had some motive in betraying David’s descendant, Christ. Verse 21 shows that Saul was a victim of self pity, perhaps part of his earlier depression.

v 22-26. They apparently were opportunists who expected to gain favor from Saul by setting spies to watch David’s every move. David heard of it, so he took his men to the rock in the wilderness of Maon, 10 miles southeast of Hebron. This situation was critical with Saul’s men on one side of the mountain and David’s fleeing on the other side, nearly surrounded. Similar situations took place in our own Civil War, with the Union army kept apart on one side of the mountains and the South on the other.

v 27,28. By Divine intervention, Philistines invaded the land and Saul went against them. Apparently his own interests were at stake, because it did not concern him when they attacked Keilah. Sela-hammahlekoth means cliff of divisions.
David next sought refuge at the oasis of Engedi, “fount of the kid”. This is about 10 miles north of Masada on the west shore of the Dead Sea.