1 Samuel 23:19-29

Expanded Bible

¹⁹ The people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and told him, “David is hiding in our land. He’s at the ·hideouts [strongholds] of Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, ·south of [in the southern part of] Jeshimon. ²⁰ Now, our king, come down ·anytime you want [whenever you’re ready]. It’s our duty to hand David over to you.”

²¹ Saul answered, “The Lord bless you for ·helping [^Lshowing concern for; having compassion on] me. ²² Go and ·learn more about him [make sure]. ·Find out [Investigate] where he is staying and who has seen him there. I have heard that he is ·clever [very cunning/crafty]. ²³ Find all the hiding places he uses, and come back ·and tell me everything [when you are sure; with definite information]. Then I’ll go with you. If David is in the ·area [land], I will ·track him down [search him out] among all the ·families [clans; or thousands] in Judah.”

²⁴ So they went back to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Maon^[a] in the ·desert [wilderness] area south of Jeshimon. ²⁵ Saul and his men went to look for David, but David heard about it and went down to ·a [the great] rock and stayed in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Maon. When Saul heard that, he ·followed [pursued] David into the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Maon.

²⁶ Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul, because Saul and his men were ·closing in on [surrounding] them. ²⁷ But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are ·attacking [raiding] our land!” ²⁸ So Saul stopped chasing David and went to ·challenge [meet; oppose] the Philistines. That is why people call this place Rock of ·Parting [Escape; or Separations]. ²⁹ David also left the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Maon and stayed in the ·hideouts [strongholds] of En Gedi.