David

1David came to the town of Nob. He went to Ahimelech, a priest. Ahimelech shook with fear when he saw David. He asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

NoteNob was a town near Jerusalem where many priests lived. The holy tent where people worshiped God was kept there. Priests took care of that tent and its holy things.

2David said to Ahimelech, "The king gave me a job to do. He told me not to tell anyone about it. I told my men to meet me at a certain place."

And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

NoteThe king David talks about is Saul. Saul was trying to kill David. David was running away, and he did not tell Ahimelech that.

3"So what food do you have here? Please give me five loaves of bread. Or give me whatever you can find."

Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

NoteBread then was flat and round, a little like a thick pancake. Five loaves would feed a few men for a day or two.

4The priest answered, "I have no ordinary bread here. I only have holy bread, set apart for God. Your young men may eat it if they have kept away from women."

And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

NoteThe holy bread belonged to God and was kept in the holy tent. Only priests were supposed to eat it. Before touching holy things, men had rules to follow first. Staying away from their wives for a few days was one rule.

5David said, "Yes, we have kept away from women. We always do when I go out. My men and their things are clean and ready. That is true even on ordinary trips. It is even more true today."

And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

Note"Clean" here does not mean washed with soap. It means ready to be near holy things, the way the rules said.

6So the priest gave him the holy bread. It was the only bread he had. It was the special bread kept in front of the LORD. Fresh warm bread had just been put in its place.

So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

NoteThis special bread is called the showbread. Twelve fresh loaves were set out before God each week. When new loaves came, the priests took the old ones. Writing LORD in big letters shows God's own special name.

7One of King Saul's servants was there that day. He was being kept at the holy place for some reason. His name was Doeg, and he came from Edom. He was the chief of Saul's shepherds.

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

NoteEdom was a country next door to Israel. So Doeg was a foreigner living among Israelites. A shepherd takes care of sheep, and Doeg was the boss of Saul's shepherds. He is remembered because of what he does later in the story.

8David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword here? I did not bring my sword or my other weapons. The king's job had to be done in a hurry."

And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.

9The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine is here. You killed him in the valley of Elah. The sword is wrapped in cloth behind the ephod. Take it if you want it. There is no other sword here." David said, "There is none like it. Give it to me."

And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

NoteGoliath was a giant soldier David killed with a stone and sling. The Philistines were a people who lived nearby and often fought Israel. An ephod was a special vest the priest wore when he served God.

10That day David ran away from Saul. He went to Achish, the king of the city of Gath.

And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

NoteGath was a Philistine city, and it was Goliath's hometown. So David was hiding among the enemies of his own people.

11The servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of his land? People danced and sang about him. They sang, 'Saul has killed thousands, and David ten thousands.'"

And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

NoteThis was a song people had sung after David won battles. It said David was even better than King Saul. Saul had heard it too, and it made him angry.

12David kept thinking about what they said. He became very afraid of Achish, the king of Gath.

And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13So he acted strangely in front of them. He pretended to be out of his mind. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate. He let his spit run down his beard.

And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

NoteLong ago people usually left alone anyone who acted this way. They thought it was safer not to touch him. So David hoped this trick would keep him alive.

14Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, this man is out of his mind. So why did you bring him to me?"

Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

15"Do I need more men like this? You brought him here to act wild in front of me. Should a man like this come into my house?"

Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

1So David left that place and hid in a cave called Adullam. His brothers and the rest of his family heard about it. They came down to be with him there.

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.

NoteDavid was running away from King Saul, who wanted to kill him. A cave is a hollow space inside a rock or a hill. Adullam was the name of the place where this cave was.

2Men who were in trouble came to David. So did men who owed money and men who were unhappy. About four hundred men joined him, and he became their leader.

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

NoteLong ago, a person who could not pay back money was in real danger. He could be taken away to work for the man he owed. Men in trouble like this had nowhere safe to go.

3Then David went to a town called Mizpeh in the land of Moab. He asked the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother stay with you. They can stay until I know what God will do for me."

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

NoteMoab was a country close to Israel, on the other side of the Dead Sea. It had its own king. David's family had a link to Moab. His great-grandmother Ruth came from there.

4David brought his parents to the king of Moab. They stayed with him the whole time David was hiding in his safe place.

And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

NoteThe safe place was a strong hideout among rocks and caves. Enemies would find it very hard to reach.

5Gad was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. Gad told David, "Do not stay in that safe place. Go to the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hareth.

And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

NoteA prophet was someone who carried God's messages to people. Kings often listened to a prophet before choosing what to do.

6Saul heard that people had found David and his men. Saul was sitting in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree on the hill. He held his spear, and all his servants stood around him.

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)

NoteA tamarisk tree is a shade tree with small feathery leaves. Gibeah was Saul's hometown. Saul kept his spear in his hand. Holding it showed everyone that he was the king.

7Saul said to his servants, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Do you think David will give you fields and grape farms? Do you think he will make you leaders over his soldiers?

Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

NoteIsrael was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. Saul and these servants all came from the tribe of Benjamin. David came from a different tribe, called Judah. Saul will not even say David's name here. In the old words he only calls him "the son of Jesse." Jesse was David's father.

8Is that why all of you have turned against me? Nobody told me my own son made a promise with David. Nobody feels sorry for me. Nobody told me my son helped David plan to attack me."

That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

NoteSaul's son was named Jonathan, and he was David's best friend. The two had promised to stay loyal to each other always. Saul felt his own son had chosen David instead of him.

9A man named Doeg from Edom was standing with Saul's servants. He said, "I saw David come to the town of Nob. He came to Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub.

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

NoteEdom was another country, south of Israel. So Doeg was not from Israel. Nob was a town where many priests lived together.

10Ahimelech asked the LORD what David should do. He also gave David food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

NotePeople asked God questions through a priest. The priest asked God, then told the person what God said. Goliath was the huge enemy soldier David had beaten years before. David had kept Goliath's sword.

11So the king sent for Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub. He also sent for Ahimelech's whole family, the priests who lived in Nob. All of them came to the king.

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

NoteA priest was a man who worked at God's holy tent. Priests helped people pray and bring their gifts to God.

12Saul said, "Listen to me, son of Ahitub." Ahimelech answered, "I am here, my lord."

And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

Note"My lord" was a polite way to speak to a king. It is like saying "sir" to someone important.

13Saul said, "Why did you and David plan against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You asked God what he should do. Now he is waiting to attack me."

And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

14Ahimelech answered the king, "No servant of yours is as loyal as David. He is married to your daughter. He leads your guards, and your house honors him.

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

NoteDavid had married Saul's daughter. That made David part of the king's own family.

15That was not the first time I asked God for him. I would never plan against you! Please do not blame me or my family. I knew nothing at all about any of this."

Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

16But the king said, "Ahimelech, you will surely die. So will everyone in your family."

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.

17The king told the guards standing near him, "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD. They helped David. They knew he ran away and did not tell me." But the king's servants would not raise a hand against the priests of the LORD.

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

NoteGuards had to obey a king or they could be punished. These guards still said no. Hurting God's priests felt too wrong to them.

18So the king said to Doeg, "You turn and kill the priests." Doeg from Edom turned and killed them. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen vest of a priest.

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

NoteA linen ephod was a special vest that priests wore. Linen is a light, soft cloth. The vest showed that a man served God.

19He also attacked Nob, the town where the priests lived. He killed the men and women there with the sword. He killed the children and babies too, and the cows, donkeys, and sheep.

And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

NoteArmies long ago sometimes destroyed a whole town. They took away the people and even the animals. Nothing was left behind.

20But one son of Ahimelech got away. His name was Abiathar, and he ran to David.

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD’s priests.

22David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day that Doeg was there. I knew he would tell Saul. It is my fault that your whole family died.

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.

NoteEarlier, David had gone to Nob to ask for food. Doeg was there that day and saw him.

23Stay with me. Do not be afraid. The man who wants to kill me also wants to kill you. You will be safe with me."

Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

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

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

NoteThe Philistines were a strong people who lived near Israel. They fought Israel again and again. Grain was beaten out on flat open ground outside a town. That is where the food was piled up, easy to steal.

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

Therefore 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.

NoteWhen LORD is written in big letters, it is God's own name. David asked God a question and waited for an answer.

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."

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?

NoteJudah was the part of Israel where David's family lived.

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

Then 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

NoteAbiathar was a priest, a man who served God for the people. Saul had killed the other priests, so Abiathar ran to David. An ephod was a special vest a priest wore.

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."

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.

NoteTowns had walls with big gates. Heavy bars held the gates shut at night. Saul thought David could not get out.

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

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

NoteSoldiers would stand all around a town so no one could leave. Then the people inside ran out of food.

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

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

NoteThe priest used the ephod when asking God a question. God would answer yes or no.

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

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.

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."

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

NoteSix hundred men had come to live with David. Many of them were poor or in trouble.

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.

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.

NoteSaul was king, but God had chosen David to be king next. That is why Saul kept hunting him. A safe hiding spot might be a cave or a high rock.

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

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

NoteThe wood was the name of a place. It may have been a spot with trees.

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

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

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."

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.

NoteJonathan was the king's son. Usually a king's son becomes the next king. Jonathan said David should have that place instead of him.

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

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

NoteThey promised to stay friends and keep each other safe. Back then a promise like this was taken very seriously.

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.

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?

NoteThese men lived in Ziph, close to where David was hiding. Gibeah was Saul's home town. Jeshimon means dry, empty land.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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."

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.

NoteFamilies in Judah were grouped into big family groups. Saul said he would search every single one.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NoteThe rock was a big rocky hill out in the dry land.

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.

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.

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

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

NoteA messenger was someone who ran to carry news. There were no phones then.

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

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

NoteThis long name means "rock of getting away." People named the place after what happened there.

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

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

NoteEngedi was a green spot with fresh water near a big lake. It had many caves where people could hide.

1Saul came back from chasing the Philistines, a people who fought Israel. Then someone told him, "David is out in the wilderness of Engedi." The wilderness is dry, empty land with rocks and caves.

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

NoteSaul was the king of Israel. God had already chosen David to be king after him. Saul knew this, and it made him angry and afraid. So he kept hunting David. Engedi was a place near a big salty lake. It had water, tall cliffs, and many caves.

2So Saul picked three thousand of his best soldiers from all Israel. He took them to look for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

NoteThree thousand soldiers is a huge crowd for chasing one small group. The Rocks of the Wild Goats was a name for steep, rocky cliffs. Wild goats climbed there easily. People did not.

3On the way, Saul came to some sheep pens beside the road. There was a cave there. Saul went inside to go to the bathroom. David and his men were hiding far back in that same cave.

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

NoteA sheep pen was a low wall of stones. Shepherds kept their sheep safe inside it at night. Caves in that land were deep and very dark. A man near the door could not see people hiding far back. The King James says Saul went in to "cover his feet." That was a polite way of saying he needed the bathroom.

4David's men said to him, "This is the day the LORD told you about. He said he would put your enemy in your hands. Now you can do whatever you want with him." So David crept up quietly. He cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.

NoteKings wore long robes with wide corners. The corner of a robe showed who the person was. Cutting one off was a bold thing to do. It also gave David proof. He could hold it up and show he had been close enough to kill.

5Afterward, David felt bad inside. He was sorry he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

NoteThe King James says David's "heart smote him." Smote means struck or hit. It is a way of saying he felt bad inside.

6He said to his men, "I must never do such a thing to my master. God chose Saul to be king, and oil was poured on his head to show it. I will not lift my hand to hurt him."

And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

NotePouring oil on a person's head was how Israel made someone king. People called that king "the LORD's anointed." Anointed means the one with the oil on him. Hurting him was seen as a very serious wrong.

7David's words held his men back. He did not let them attack Saul. Then Saul got up, walked out of the cave, and went on his way.

So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8After that, David got up and went out of the cave too. He called out, "My lord the king!" Saul looked behind him. David bowed down with his face to the ground.

David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

NoteBowing with your face to the ground was how people greeted a king. It showed respect. David was showing he was still Saul's servant.

9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men who say I want to hurt you?"

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

10"Today you saw it with your own eyes. The LORD put you in my hands there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you. But I let you live. I said, I will not hurt my master, because God chose him to be king."

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed.

11"Look, my father. See this piece of your robe in my hand. I cut it off, but I did not kill you. So you can see I have done nothing wrong to you. I have not sinned against you. Yet you keep hunting me to take my life."

Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

NoteDavid called Saul "my father" as a word of respect. David had also married Saul's daughter. So Saul really was his father-in-law.

12"Let the LORD decide who is right, you or me. Let the LORD pay you back for what you are doing to me. But I will never lift my hand against you."

The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

13"There is an old saying: bad things come from bad people. But I will never lift my hand against you."

As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

NoteA proverb is a short saying that people say again and again. This one was old even then. It means bad deeds come out of bad hearts.

14"Who is the king of Israel coming out to fight? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A flea?"

After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

NoteDogs then were not pets. They ran wild and ate scraps. Calling yourself a dead dog meant you were small and not worth anyone's time. A flea is tiny and hard to catch. David is saying, why send an army after someone like me?

15"Let the LORD be the judge between you and me. Let him look at what happened and speak up for me. Let him keep me safe from your hand."

The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

NoteIn that time a judge listened to both sides of an argument. Then he said who was right. "Speak up for me" means to tell the judge your side, the way a lawyer does.

16When David finished speaking, Saul called back, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul cried out loud.

And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

NoteSaul called David "my son" because David had married his daughter. Crying out loud in front of others was normal then. People did not hide their tears.

17Saul said to David, "You are more in the right than I am. You have been good to me. I have been bad to you."

And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18"Today you showed how well you have treated me. The LORD put me in your hands, and you did not kill me."

And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19"When a man finds his enemy, does he let him walk away safe? May the LORD be good to you for what you did for me today."

For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

20"Now I know for sure that you will be king. The kingdom of Israel will be strong and steady under you."

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21"So promise me now, before the LORD. Promise you will not kill my children and their children after me. Promise you will not wipe my family name away."

Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.

NoteWhen a new king took over, he often killed the old king's family. That way no one could try to take the throne back. A family name lived on through children and grandchildren. Saul is asking David to let his family go on living.

22David made that promise to Saul. Then Saul went home. David and his men went back up to their safe hiding place in the rocks.

And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

NoteA promise made before the LORD was called an oath. People believed an oath could never be taken back.

1Samuel died. All Israel came together and cried for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went down to the desert of Paran.

And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

NoteSamuel was the man who poured oil on David's head to mark him as the next king. The desert here is dry, rocky land with almost nobody living in it. Samuel was a prophet, a man who told people what God said.

2A very rich man lived in Maon. His land and work were in Carmel. He owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was cutting the wool off his sheep in Carmel.

And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

NoteSheep grow thick wool. Once a year the owner cut it all off to sell. Shearing time was a happy time, with a big feast and lots of food.

3The man's name was Nabal. His wife's name was Abigail. She was smart, and she was beautiful. But Nabal was rude and mean in the way he treated people. His family came from Caleb.

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

NoteCaleb was a brave man from long ago. Families were proud to say they came from him.

4David was out in the desert. He heard that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

5So David sent ten young men. He told them, "Go up to Carmel. Find Nabal. Say hello to him for me."

And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:

NoteThere was no mail and no phones. To send a message, you sent people to say it out loud.

6"Say this to him: 'I hope you live a long life. Peace to you. Peace to your family and to everything you own.'"

And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

Note"Peace" was the ordinary way to say hello. It means, I hope you are safe and well.

7"'I hear that it is time to cut your sheep's wool. Your shepherds were out with us. We never hurt them. Nothing of theirs went missing the whole time they were in Carmel.'"

And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

NoteShepherds slept outside with the sheep. There were no fences. Robbers could take the animals. David's men had kept them safe.

8"'Ask your young men. They will tell you it is true. So please be kind to my men. We have come on a feast day. Please give us whatever food you can spare. Give it to your servants and to your son David.'"

Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

NoteCalling himself "your son" was David being polite. A younger man spoke that way to an older, richer man.

9David's young men came and said all these words to Nabal for David. Then they waited.

And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10Nabal answered them, "Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Lots of servants run away from their masters these days."

And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

NoteJesse was David's father. Using "son of Jesse" instead of David's name was rude here. Nabal is also calling David a servant who ran away from his master.

11"Why should I give away my bread and my water? Why give away the meat I cooked for my workers? I do not even know where these men come from."

Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

NoteThe land was dry, so water was precious. People counted it as carefully as food.

12So David's young men turned around. They went back and told David every word Nabal had said.

So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13David told his men, "Put on your swords!" Every man put on his sword. David put his on too. About four hundred men went up with David. Two hundred stayed behind with the supplies.

And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

NoteDavid had about six hundred men with him. They lived out in the desert because King Saul was hunting David.

14One of Nabal's workers went and told Abigail, Nabal's wife. "David sent messengers from the desert to greet our master. But he yelled at them."

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15"Those men were very good to us. They never hurt us. Nothing of ours went missing while we lived near them out in the fields."

But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16"They were like a wall around us, day and night. They kept us safe the whole time we watched the sheep."

They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17"So think hard about what you should do. Trouble is coming for our master and everyone in his house. He is so mean that nobody can talk to him."

Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

NoteThe King James says Nabal is "a son of Belial." That was an old way to call someone a worthless, bad man.

18Abigail hurried. She took two hundred loaves of bread and two leather bags of wine. She took five sheep already cooked and five big baskets of roasted grain. She took a hundred bunches of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded it all onto donkeys.

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

NoteWine was carried in bags made from animal skin, not glass bottles. The King James word "corn" means grain, like wheat or barley, not corn on the cob. This was a huge pile of food, enough to feed hundreds of men.

19She told her servants, "Go on ahead of me. I will come along behind you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20She rode her donkey down a hidden path in the hills. Just then David and his men came down toward her. She met them there.

And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21David had just been saying, "I guarded this man's things in the desert for nothing. Not one thing of his went missing. And he paid me back with meanness instead of kindness."

Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

22"May God punish me if I leave even one of Nabal's men alive by morning."

So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

NoteDavid is making a strong promise here, the kind people made using God's name. The King James uses a rough old phrase, "any that pisseth against the wall." It simply means every boy and man.

23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down off her donkey. She bowed low with her face to the ground.

And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

NoteGetting off her donkey and bowing with her face to the ground showed great respect. People did this in front of kings and leaders.

24She fell at his feet and said, "My lord, put the blame on me. Please let me speak to you. Please listen to my words."

And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

NoteThe King James word here is "handmaid." It means a woman servant. Abigail calls herself that to be polite.

25"Please pay no attention to that mean man Nabal. His name means 'Fool,' and he acts like one. I never saw the young men you sent."

Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

26"As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, the LORD has held you back. He has kept you from killing and from paying people back yourself. May your enemies end up like Nabal."

Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

NoteWhen you see LORD in capital letters, it stands for God's own special name. "As the LORD liveth" was a way of saying, I really mean what I say.

27"Now please take this gift I brought you. Let it be given to the young men who follow you."

And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

NoteThe King James calls her gift a "blessing." That was a normal word for a present.

28"Please forgive me for the trouble. The LORD will keep your family strong for a long time. You fight the LORD's battles. May nothing evil be found in you as long as you live."

I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

Note"House" here means family. A "sure house" means children and grandchildren who keep going for a long time.

29"A man is chasing you and wants to kill you. But the LORD your God will hold your life safe with him. He will throw your enemies away like a stone from a sling."

Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

NoteA sling was a leather strap for throwing stones very fast and hard. David used one when he fought Goliath. The "bundle of life" is a picture of God keeping David's life safe, like treasures tied up in a bag.

30"The LORD promised good things for you. He will do every one of them. He will make you the ruler over Israel."

And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

31"Then you will not feel sad or guilty inside. You will not have killed people for no reason. You will not have paid them back yourself. And when the LORD is good to you, please remember me."

That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

32David said to Abigail, "Thank the LORD, the God of Israel. He sent you to meet me today."

And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33"Bless your good thinking, and bless you. Today you kept me from killing. You kept me from paying Nabal back myself."

And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34"As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, he stopped me from hurting you. If you had not hurried out to meet me, not one man of Nabal's would be alive by morning."

For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35So David took the gift she had brought him. He said, "Go home in peace. See, I have listened to you. I will do what you asked."

So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

36Abigail went home to Nabal. He was having a big feast, like a king's feast. He felt happy, and he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until morning.

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37In the morning Nabal was not drunk anymore. His wife told him everything. His heart failed inside him. He went stiff and still, like a stone.

But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

Note"His heart died within him" is an old way of saying the shock left him weak and still.

38About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.

And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

39David heard that Nabal was dead. He said, "Thank the LORD. He stood up for me when Nabal insulted me. He kept me, his servant, from doing wrong. Nabal's own meanness came back on his own head." Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to be his wife.

And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

NoteSaying the wickedness came back "upon his own head" was an old way of saying the bad he did came back on him.

40David's servants came to Abigail in Carmel. They said, "David sent us to you. He wants you to be his wife."

And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

41She stood up and bowed with her face to the ground. She said, "I am here to serve. I will even wash the feet of my lord's servants."

And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

NotePeople wore sandals on dusty roads, so feet got very dirty. Washing a guest's feet was the job of the lowest servant.

42Abigail hurried and got on a donkey. Five of her servant girls went with her. She followed David's messengers, and she became his wife.

And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43David had also married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel. So both women were his wives.

David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

NoteIn those days an important man was allowed to have more than one wife.

44But Saul had given his daughter Michal to another man. Michal had been David's wife. Saul gave her to Phalti, son of Laish, from Gallim.

But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

NoteMichal was King Saul's daughter and David's first wife. Saul was angry at David, so he gave her to another man.