1 Samuel 23

Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

1People brought David some news. "The Philistines are fighting the town of Keilah. They are stealing the grain there."

NoteA threshing floor is a flat, hard spot where farmers beat grain to get the seeds out. The grain was piled there, so it was easy to steal.

2Therefore David enquired 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.

2So David asked the LORD what to do. "Should I go and fight these Philistines?" The LORD said, "Go. Fight the Philistines. Save Keilah."

3And 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?

3But David's men said to him, "We are already afraid here in Judah. We will be even more afraid at Keilah, facing the whole Philistine army."

4Then David enquired 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.

4So David asked the LORD again. The LORD answered him, "Get up and go down to Keilah. I will help you beat the Philistines."

5So 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.

5So David and his men went to Keilah. They fought the Philistines and beat them badly. They took the animals the Philistines had. David saved the people of Keilah.

6And 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.

6Earlier, Abiathar son of Ahimelech had run away to David at Keilah. He brought an ephod with him.

NoteAn ephod was a special piece of clothing worn by a priest, a man who served God at the holy place. David used it when he wanted to ask God a question.

7And 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.

7Someone told Saul that David had gone to Keilah. Saul said, "God has handed him to me. He is stuck inside a town with gates and heavy bars."

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

8So Saul called all his soldiers together for war. They would go to Keilah and trap David and his men there.

9And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

9David learned that Saul was planning to hurt him. He said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."

10Then 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.

10Then David prayed, "LORD, God of Israel, I have heard something. Saul plans to come to Keilah and wreck the town because of me.

11Will 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.

11Will the men of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul really come, as I heard? LORD, God of Israel, please tell me." The LORD said, "He will come."

12Then 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.

12Then David asked, "Will the men of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?" The LORD said, "Yes, they will."

13Then 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.

13So David and his men left Keilah. There were about six hundred of them. They moved from place to place. Saul heard that David had gotten away, so he stayed home.

14And 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.

14David stayed in safe hiding spots out in the desert. He stayed in the hills of the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him every day. But God did not let Saul catch him.

15And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

15David was at a place called the wood, in the desert of Ziph. He saw that Saul had come out to kill him.

16And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

16Then Jonathan, Saul's son, went to David at the wood. He helped David feel strong and trust God again.

17And 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.

17Jonathan said, "Do not be afraid. My father Saul will never catch you. You will be king over Israel. I will be right beside you. My father knows this too."

18And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

18The two of them made a promise to each other before the LORD. David stayed at the wood. Jonathan went home.

19Then 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?

19Then some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding near us. He is in the safe spots at the wood, on the hill of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon.

20Now 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.

20So come down whenever you want, O king. We will make sure you get him."

21And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

21Saul said, "May the LORD bless you. You have been kind to me.

22Go, 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.

22Please go and get ready. Watch where he goes. Find out who has seen him there. People tell me he is very clever.

23See 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.

23Look carefully. Learn every hiding place he uses. Then come back and tell me for sure. After that I will go with you. If he is in this land, I will search every family in Judah."

24And 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.

24So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the desert of Maon, on the flat land south of Jeshimon.

25Saul 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.

25Saul and his men went to look for David. Someone warned David, so he went down to the rock and stayed in the desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he chased David there.

26And 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.

26Saul went along one side of the mountain. David and his men went along the other side. David hurried to get away from Saul. But Saul and his men were closing in around them.

27But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

27Then a messenger came to Saul. He said, "Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking our land."

28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

28So Saul stopped chasing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why people call that place Selahammahlekoth.

NoteThe name Selahammahlekoth means "the rock of parting," because David and Saul parted ways there.

29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

29David went up from there. He lived in the safe hiding spots at Engedi.