¹⁶ David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

⁵ After that you shall come to the hill of God ^(A)where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down ^(B)from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; ^(C)and they will be prophesying.

⁴ Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become ^[a]an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.

A Plea for Relief from Persecutors

A ^(A)Contemplation^[a] of David. A Prayer ^(B)when he was in the cave.

²⁵ When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down ^[a]to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon.

David’s Four Hundred Men^(A)

22 David therefore departed from there and ^(B)escaped ^(C)to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.

^23 (A)And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.