1 Samuel 23:9-24

New International Version

⁹When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(A) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(B)” ¹⁰David 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. ¹¹Will 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.”

¹²Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender^(C) me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

¹³So David and his men,^(D) 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.

¹⁴David stayed in the wilderness^(E) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.^(F) Day after day Saul searched^(G) for him, but God did not^(H) give David into his hands.

¹⁵While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[a] Saul had come out to take his life.^(I) ¹⁶And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength^(J) in God. ¹⁷“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king^(K) over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” ¹⁸The two of them made a covenant^(L) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

¹⁹The Ziphites^(M) went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us^(N) in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah,^(O) south of Jeshimon? ²⁰Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving^(P) him into your hands.”

²¹Saul replied, “The Lord bless^(Q) you for your concern^(R) for me. ²²Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. ²³Find 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^(S) him down among all the clans of Judah.”