Font Size
1 Samuel 23
1599 Geneva Bible
1 Samuel 23
1599 Geneva Bible
23 5 David chaseth the Philistines from Keilah. 13 David departeth from Keilah, and remaineth in the wilderness of Ziph. 16 Jonathan comforteth David. 28 Saul’s enterprise is broken in pursuing David.
1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against [a]Keilah, and spoil the barns.
2 Therefore David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord answered David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3 And David’s men said unto him, See, we be afraid here in [b]Judah, how much more if we come to Keilah against the host of the Philistines?
4 Then David asked counsel of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5 ¶ 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: thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 (And when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech (A)fled to David to Keilah, he brought an [c]Ephod [d]with him.)
7 ¶ 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, seeing he is come into a city that hath gates and bars.
8 Then Saul called all the people together to war for to go down to Keilah, and to besiege David and his men.
9 ¶ And David having knowledge that Saul imagined mischief against him, said to Abiathar the Priest, [e]Bring the Ephod.
10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath heard, that Saul is about to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will the lords of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? and 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.
12 Then said David, Will the [f]lords of Keilah deliver me up, and the men that are with me, into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.
13 ¶ Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went [g]whither they could. And it was told Saul, that David was fled from Keilah, and he left off his journey.
14 And David abode in the wilderness in the [h]holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God [i]delivered him not into his hand.
15 And David saw that Saul was come out for to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.
16 ¶ And Jonathan Saul’s son arose and went to David into the wood, and comforted [j]him in God,
17 And said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee, and thou shalt be [k]king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee: and also Saul my father knoweth it.
18 So they twain made a covenant before the Lord: and David did remain in the wood: but Jonathan went to his house.
19 ¶ Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself by us in holds, in the wood in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the right side [l]of Jeshimon?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all that thine heart can desire, and our part shall be to deliver him into the King’s hands.
21 Then Saul said, [m]Be ye blessed of the Lord: for ye have had compassion on me.
22 Go, I pray you, and prepare ye yet better: know and see his place where he [n]haunteth, and who hath seen him there: for it is said to me, He is subtle, and crafty.
23 See therefore and know all the secret places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and if he be in the [o]land, I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24 Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul, but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the right hand of Jeshimon.
25 Saul also and his men went to seek him, and they told David: wherefore he came down unto a rock, and abode in the wilderness of [p]Maon. And when Saul heard that, he followed after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul and his men went on the one side of the mountain: and David and his men on the other side of the mountain: and David made haste to get from the presence of Saul: for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about, to take them.
27 But there came a [q]messenger to Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come: for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place, [r]Sela Hammahlekoth.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 23:1 Which was a city in the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15:44.
- 1 Samuel 23:3 That is, in the midst of Judah, much more when we come to the borders against our enemies.
- 1 Samuel 23:6 By God’s providence the Ephod was preserved and kept with David the true king.
- 1 Samuel 23:6 Hebrew, in his hand.
- 1 Samuel 23:9 To consult with the Lord by Urim and Thummim.
- 1 Samuel 23:12 Or, governors.
- 1 Samuel 23:13 Or, to and fro, as having no certain place to go.
- 1 Samuel 23:14 Or, strong places.
- 1 Samuel 23:14 No power nor policy can prevail against God’s children, but when he appointeth the time.
- 1 Samuel 23:16 Hebrew, his hand.
- 1 Samuel 23:17 Jonathan assureth David, that God will accomplish his promise, and that his father striveth against his own conscience.
- 1 Samuel 23:19 Or, of the wilderness.
- 1 Samuel 23:21 The Lord recompense this friendship.
- 1 Samuel 23:22 Hebrew, where his foot hath been.
- 1 Samuel 23:23 In your country of Ziph, which is in Judah.
- 1 Samuel 23:25 Which was also in the tribe of Judah, Josh. 15:55.
- 1 Samuel 23:27 Thus the Lord can pull back the bridle of the tyrants and deliver his out of the lion’s mouth.
- 1 Samuel 23:28 That is, stone of division, because there they divided themselves one from another.
1 Samuel 23
New International Version
1 Samuel 23
New International Version
David Saves Keilah
23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah(A) and are looting the threshing floors,”(B) 2 he inquired(C) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
4 Once again David inquired(D) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines(E) into your hand.(F)” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. 6 (Now Abiathar(G) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod(H) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
Saul Pursues David
7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands,(I) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”(J) 8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar(K) the priest, “Bring the ephod.(L)” 10 David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”
And the Lord said, “He will.”
12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender(M) me and my men to Saul?”
And the Lord said, “They will.”
13 So David and his men,(N) about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
14 David stayed in the wilderness(O) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.(P) Day after day Saul searched(Q) for him, but God did not(R) give David into his hands.
15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that[a] Saul had come out to take his life.(S) 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength(T) in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king(U) over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant(V) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
19 The Ziphites(W) went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us(X) in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah,(Y) south of Jeshimon? 20 Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving(Z) him into your hands.”
21 Saul replied, “The Lord bless(AA) you for your concern(AB) for me. 22 Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. 23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track(AC) him down among all the clans of Judah.”
24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon,(AD) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.(AE) 25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.
26 Saul(AF) was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” 28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.[b] 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds(AG) of En Gedi.[c](AH)
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 23:15 Or he was afraid because
- 1 Samuel 23:28 Sela Hammahlekoth means rock of parting.
- 1 Samuel 23:29 In Hebrew texts this verse (23:29) is numbered 24:1.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.