International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Someone told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors."

1Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.”

2David inquired of the LORD: "Shall I go and strike down these Philistines?" The LORD told David, "Go strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah."

2Therefore David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

3David's men told him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?"

3But 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?”

4David inquired of the LORD again, and the LORD answered him: "Get up, go down to Keilah. I'll give the Philistines into your control."

4Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”

5David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

5And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him.

6When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand.

7It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, "The LORD has delivered him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars."

7Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”

8Saul summoned for battle all his forces to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

8And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

9David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod."

9David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”

10David said, "LORD God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me.

10Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account.

11Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? LORD God of Israel, please inform your servant." The LORD said, "He will come down."

11Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.”

12Then David said, "Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?" The LORD said, "They'll hand you over."

12Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”

13David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign.

13Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.

14David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and he lived in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not let David slip into Saul's control.

14And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

15David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

15David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

16Saul's son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust in God.

16And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.

17Jonathan told him, "Don't be afraid. My father Saul won't find you, and you will be king over Israel. I'll be your second-in-command. My father Saul also knows this."

17And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”

18The two of them made a covenant in the LORD's presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home.

18And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

19People from Ziph came up to Saul at Gibeah and informed him, "David is hiding with us in the strongholds in Horesh and on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon, isn't he?

19Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?

20Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king."

20Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”

21Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have been gracious to me.

21And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.

22Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is and who has seen him there, for people tell me that he's very clever.

22Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning.

23Investigate and find out all the hiding places there where he hides, and return to me with reliable information. Then I'll go down with you, and if he's in the land, I'll search him out among all the thousands of Judah."

23See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

24The people from Ziph got up and left Saul, while David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.

24And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.

25When Saul and his men went to search for David, some people told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon.

25And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

26Saul went on one side of the mountain while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul while Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.

26Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them,

27Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: "Come quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!"

27a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.”

28So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape.

28So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

29 David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.

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ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.