1 Samuel 23:14-23

English Standard Version

¹⁴ And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country ^(A)of the wilderness of ^(B)Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

Saul Pursues David

¹⁵ David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. ¹⁶ And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. ¹⁷ And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. ^(C)Saul my father also knows this.” ^18 (D)And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

^19 (E)Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of ^(F)Jeshimon? ²⁰ Now come down, O king, according to all your heart's desire to come down, ^(G)and our part shall be to surrender him into the king's hand.” ²¹ And Saul said, ^(H)“May you be blessed by the Lord, ^(I)for you have had compassion on me. ²² Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. ²³ See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”