David Delivers Keilah

1  וַיַּגִּ֥דוּ (And they declared) לְדָוִ֖ד (to David), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (the Philistines) נִלְחָמִ֣ים (are fighting) בִּקְעִילָ֔ה (against Keilah), וְהֵ֖מָּה (and they) שֹׁסִ֥ים (are plundering) אֶת־ (-) הַגֳּרָנֽוֹת׃ (the threshing floors).

2  וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל (And inquired) דָּוִ֤ד (David) בַּֽיהוָה֙ (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הַאֵלֵ֣ךְ (Shall I go) וְהִכֵּ֔יתִי (and attack) בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (the Philistines) הָאֵ֑לֶּהס (these)?

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), לֵ֚ךְ (Go) וְהִכִּ֣יתָ (and attack) בַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines), וְהוֹשַׁעְתָּ֖ (and save) אֶת־ (-) קְעִילָֽה׃ (Keilah).

3  וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ (And said) אַנְשֵׁ֤י (men) דָוִד֙ (of David) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אֲנַ֥חְנוּ (we) פֹ֛ה (here) בִּֽיהוּדָ֖ה (in Judah) יְרֵאִ֑ים (are afraid). וְאַף֙ (And how much more) כִּֽי־ (when) נֵלֵ֣ךְ (we go) קְעִלָ֔ה (to Keilah) אֶל־ (against) מַֽעַרְכ֖וֹת (the ranks) פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ס (of the Philistines)?

4  וַיּ֨וֹסֶף (And) ע֤וֹד (once again) דָּוִד֙ (David) לִשְׁאֹ֣ל (inquired) בַּֽיהוָ֔הס (of YHWH). וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֖הוּ (And answered him) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), ק֚וּם (Arise), רֵ֣ד (go down) קְעִילָ֔ה (to Keilah), כִּֽי־ (for) אֲנִ֥י (I) נֹתֵ֛ן (am giving) אֶת־ (-) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (the Philistines) בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃ (into your hand).

5  וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And went) דָּוִד֩ (David) וְאֲנָשׁוֹ (and his men) קְעִילָ֜ה (to Keilah), וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם (and fought) בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (with the Philistines), וַיִּנְהַג֙ (and he led away) אֶת־ (-) מִקְנֵיהֶ֔ם (their livestock), וַיַּ֥ךְ (and struck) בָּהֶ֖ם (them) מַכָּ֣ה (with a blow) גְדוֹלָ֑ה (mighty). וַיֹּ֣שַׁע (And saved) דָּוִ֔ד (David) אֵ֖ת (-) יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) קְעִילָֽה׃ס (of Keilah).

6  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), בִּ֠בְרֹחַ (when had fled) אֶבְיָתָ֧ר (Abiathar) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ (of Ahimelech) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֖ד (David) קְעִילָ֑ה (at Keilah), אֵפ֖וֹד (that an ephod) יָרַ֥ד (came down) בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (in his hand).

Saul Pursues David
(Psalm 54:1–7)

7  וַיֻּגַּ֣ד (And it was told) לְשָׁא֔וּל (to Saul) כִּי־ (that) בָ֥א (had gone) דָוִ֖ד (David) קְעִילָ֑ה (to Keilah). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul), נִכַּ֨ר (Has delivered) אֹת֤וֹ (him) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) בְּיָדִ֔י (into my hand); כִּ֚י (for) נִסְגַּ֣ר (he has shut himself in) לָב֔וֹא (by entering) בְּעִ֖יר (a town) דְּלָתַ֥יִם (that has gates) וּבְרִֽיחַ׃ (and bars).

8  וַיְשַׁמַּ֥ע (And called together) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (for war), לָרֶ֣דֶת (to go down) קְעִילָ֔ה (to Keilah), לָצ֥וּר (to lay siege) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֖ד (David) וְאֶל־ (and) אֲנָשָֽׁיו׃ (his men).

9  וַיֵּ֣דַע (And knew) דָּוִ֔ד (David) כִּ֣י (that) עָלָ֔יו (against him) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) מַחֲרִ֣ישׁ (was devising) הָרָעָ֑ה (evil), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said) אֶל־ (to) אֶבְיָתָ֣ר (Abiathar) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest), הַגִּ֖ישָׁה (Bring near) הָאֵפֽוֹד׃ס (the ephod).

10  וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (And said) דָּוִד֒ (David), יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), שָׁמֹ֤עַ (hearing) שָׁמַע֙ (has heard) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (Your servant) כִּֽי־ (that) מְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (seeks) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) לָב֣וֹא (to come) אֶל־ (to) קְעִילָ֑ה (Keilah) לְשַׁחֵ֥ת (to destroy) לָעִ֖יר (the city) בַּעֲבוּרִֽי׃ (for my sake). 11  הֲיַסְגִּרֻ֣נִי (Will shut me up) בַעֲלֵי֩ (the men) קְעִילָ֨ה (of Keilah) בְיָד֜וֹ (into his hand)? הֲיֵרֵ֣ד (Will come down) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul), כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (as) שָׁמַ֣ע (has heard) עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ (Your servant)? יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), הַגֶּד־ (declare), נָ֖א (please), לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָס (to Your servant).

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), יֵרֵֽד׃ (He will come down).

12  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֔ד (David), הֲיַסְגִּ֜רוּ (Will shut up) בַּעֲלֵ֧י (the men) קְעִילָ֛ה (of Keilah) אֹתִ֥י (me) וְאֶת־ (and) אֲנָשַׁ֖י (my men) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) שָׁא֑וּל (of Saul)?

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said), יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) יַסְגִּֽירוּ׃ס (They will shut you up).

13  וַיָּקָם֩ (And arose) דָּוִ֨ד (David) וַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו (and his men), כְּשֵׁשׁ־ (about six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) אִ֗ישׁ (men), וַיֵּצְאוּ֙ (and they went out) מִקְּעִלָ֔ה (from Keilah), וַיִּֽתְהַלְּכ֖וּ (and they went about) בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (in wherever) יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ (they could go about). וּלְשָׁא֣וּל (And to Saul) הֻגַּ֗ד (it was declared) כִּֽי־ (that) נִמְלַ֤ט (had escaped) דָּוִד֙ (David) מִקְּעִילָ֔ה (from Keilah). וַיֶּחְדַּ֖ל (And he ceased) לָצֵֽאת׃ (to go out).

14  וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב (And stayed) דָּוִ֤ד (David) בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ (in the wilderness) בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת (in the strongholds), וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and remained) בָּהָ֖ר (in the hill country) בְּמִדְבַּר־ (in the Wilderness) זִ֑יף (of Ziph). וַיְבַקְשֵׁ֤הוּ (And sought him) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) כָּל־ (every) הַיָּמִ֔ים (day), וְלֹֽא־ (not) נְתָנ֥וֹ (did deliver him) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (into his hand).

15  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) דָוִ֔ד (David) כִּֽי־ (that) יָצָ֥א (had come out) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (to seek) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשׁ֑וֹ (his life). וְדָוִ֥ד (And David was) בְּמִדְבַּר־ (in the Wilderness) זִ֖יף (of Ziph) בַּחֹֽרְשָׁה׃ס (in Horesh). 16  וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (And arose) יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul) וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (and went) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֖ד (David) חֹ֑רְשָׁה (in Horesh), וַיְחַזֵּ֥ק (and he strengthened) אֶת־ (-) יָד֖וֹ (his hand) בֵּאלֹהִֽים׃ (in God). 17  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And he said) אֵלָ֜יו (to him), אַל־ (Not) תִּירָ֗א (do fear), כִּ֠י (for) לֹ֤א (not) תִֽמְצָאֲךָ֙ (shall find you) יַ֚ד (the hand) שָׁא֣וּל (of Saul) אָבִ֔י (my father). וְאַתָּה֙ (And You) תִּמְלֹ֣ךְ (shall be king) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וְאָנֹכִ֖י (and I) אֶֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) לְּךָ֣ (to you) לְמִשְׁנֶ֑ה (for a second). וְגַם־ (Even) שָׁא֥וּל (Saul) אָבִ֖י (my father) יֹדֵ֥עַ (knows) כֵּֽן׃ (thus).

18  וַיִּכְרְת֧וּ (And cut) שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם (the two of them) בְּרִ֖ית (a covenant) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH). וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב (And stayed) דָּוִד֙ (David) בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁה (in Horesh), וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן (and Jonathan) הָלַ֥ךְ (went) לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ס (to his own house).

19  וַיַּעֲל֤וּ (And came up) זִפִים֙ (the Ziphites) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) הַגִּבְעָ֖תָה (at Gibeah), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הֲל֣וֹא (Is not) דָ֠וִד (David) מִסְתַּתֵּ֨ר (hiding) עִמָּ֤נוּ (with us) בַמְּצָדוֹת֙ (in the strongholds) בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁה (in Horesh), בְּגִבְעַת֙ (in the hill) הַֽחֲכִילָ֔ה (of Hachilah) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which is) מִימִ֥ין (on the south) הַיְשִׁימֽוֹן׃ (of Jeshimon)? 20  וְ֠עַתָּה (And now) לְכָל־ (according to all) אַוַּ֨ת (the desire) נַפְשְׁךָ֥ (of your soul), הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (O king), לָרֶ֖דֶת (to come down), רֵ֑ד (come down), וְלָ֥נוּ (and to us is) הַסְגִּיר֖וֹ (to enclose him) בְּיַ֥ד (into hand) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king).

21  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), בְּרוּכִ֥ים (Blessed are) אַתֶּ֖ם (you⁺) לַֽיהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), כִּ֥י (for) חֲמַלְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ have had compassion) עָלָֽי׃ (on me). 22  לְכוּ־ (Go), נָ֞א (please), הָכִ֣ינוּ (prepare) ע֗וֹד (further), וּדְע֤וּ (and know) וּרְאוּ֙ (and see) אֶת־ (-) מְקוֹמוֹ֙ (the place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה (is) רַגְל֔וֹ (his foot), מִ֥י (and who) רָאָ֖הוּ (has seen him) שָׁ֑ם (there). כִּ֚י (For) אָמַ֣ר (it is told) אֵלַ֔י (to me) עָר֥וֹם (being cunning) יַעְרִ֖ם (is cunning) הֽוּא׃ (he). 23  וּרְא֣וּ (And see) וּדְע֗וּ (and know) מִכֹּ֤ל (of all) הַמַּֽחֲבֹאִים֙ (of the hiding places) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) יִתְחַבֵּ֣א (he hides) שָׁ֔ם (in it), וְשַׁבְתֶּ֤ם (and come back) אֵלַי֙ (to me) אֶל־ (with) נָכ֔וֹן (certainty), וְהָלַכְתִּ֖י (and I will go) אִתְּכֶ֑ם (with you⁺). וְהָיָה֙ (And it shall be), אִם־ (if) יֶשְׁנ֣וֹ (he is) בָאָ֔רֶץ (in the land), וְחִפַּשְׂתִּ֣י (that I will search for) אֹת֔וֹ (him) בְּכֹ֖ל (throughout all) אַלְפֵ֥י (the thousands) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah).

24  וַיָּק֛וּמוּ (And they arose) וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (and went) זִ֖יפָה (to Ziph) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul). וְדָוִ֨ד (And David) וַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו (and his men were) בְּמִדְבַּ֤ר (in the Wilderness) מָעוֹן֙ (of Maon), בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה (in the plain) אֶ֖ל (on) יְמִ֥ין (the south) הַיְשִׁימֽוֹן׃ (of Jeshimon). 25  וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (And went) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) וַאֲנָשָׁיו֮ (and his men) לְבַקֵּשׁ֒ (to seek him), וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ (and they declared) לְדָוִ֔ד (to David). וַיֵּ֣רֶד (And he went down) הַסֶּ֔לַע (to the rock) וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and stayed) בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר (in the Wilderness) מָע֑וֹן (of Maon). וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (And heard) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף (and pursued) אַחֲרֵֽי־ (after) דָוִ֖ד (David) מִדְבַּ֥ר (in the Wilderness) מָעֽוֹן׃ (of Maon).

26  וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (And went) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) מִצַּ֤ד (on side) הָהָר֙ (of the mountain) מִזֶּ֔ה (this), וְדָוִ֧ד (and David) וַאֲנָשָׁ֛יו (and his men) מִצַּ֥ד (on side) הָהָ֖ר (of the mountain) מִזֶּ֑ה (this). וַיְהִ֨י (And made) דָוִ֜ד (David) נֶחְפָּ֤ז (haste) לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ (to get away) מִפְּנֵ֣י (from) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וְשָׁא֣וּל (and Saul) וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו (and his men) עֹֽטְרִ֛ים (were encircling) אֶל־ (upon) דָּוִ֥ד (David) וְאֶל־ (and) אֲנָשָׁ֖יו (his men) לְתָפְשָֽׂם׃ (to capture them).

27  וּמַלְאָ֣ךְ (And a messenger) בָּ֔א (came) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), מַהֲרָ֣ה (Hurry) וְלֵ֔כָה (and come), כִּֽי־ (for) פָשְׁט֥וּ (have pushed) פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (the Philistines) עַל־ (against) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the land). 28  וַיָּ֣שָׁב (And returned) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) מִרְדֹף֙ (from pursuing) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) דָוִ֔ד (David), וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (and he went) לִקְרַ֣את (against) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (the Philistines). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֗ן (thus) קָֽרְאוּ֙ (they called) לַמָּק֣וֹם (the place) הַה֔וּא (that) סֶ֖לַע (Sela-) הַֽמַּחְלְקֽוֹת׃ (hammahlekoth). 29  וַיַּ֥עַל (And went up) דָּוִ֖ד (David) מִשָּׁ֑ם (from there), וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and dwelt) בִּמְצָד֥וֹת (in the strongholds) עֵֽין־ (of En-) גֶּֽדִי׃ (gedi).