| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.” | 1It was reported to David: "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors." |
| 2So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” | 2So David inquired of the LORD: "Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?" The LORD answered David, "Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah." |
| 3But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” | 3But David's men said to him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!" |
| 4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” | 4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: "Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you." |
| 5Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah. | 5Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. |
| 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) | 6Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him. |
| 7When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” | 7When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, "God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates." |
| 8Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men. | 8Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men. |
| 9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” | 9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." |
| 10And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. | 10Then David said, " LORD God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. |
| 11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. | 11Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? LORD God of Israel, please tell Your servant." The LORD answered, "He will come down." |
| 12So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD. | 12Then David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?" "They will," the LORD responded. |
| 13Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth. | 13So David and his men, numbering about 600, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. |
| 14And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand. | 14David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him. |
| 15While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. | 15David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. |
| 16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, | 16Then Saul's son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God, |
| 17saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” | 17saying, "Don't be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I'll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true." |
| 18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home. | 18Then the two of them made a covenant in the LORD's presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home. |
| 19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? | 19Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon. |
| 20Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.” | 20Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king." |
| 21“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me. | 21"May you be blessed by the LORD," replied Saul, "for you have taken pity on me. |
| 22Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. | 22Go and check again. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning. |
| 23Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.” | 23Look and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I'll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I'll search for him among all the clans of Judah." |
| 24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, | 24So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, |
| 25and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. | 25and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there. |
| 26Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. | 26Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. |
| 27Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!” | 27Then a messenger came to Saul saying, "Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!" |
| 28So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth. | 28So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation. |
| 29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi. | 29From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi. |
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