David Goes to Adullam and Mizpah

22 So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s family^[a] learned about it, they went down there to him. ² All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented^[b] gathered around^[c] him, and he became their leader. He had about 400 men with him.

³ Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay^[d] with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” ⁴ So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time^[e] that David was in the stronghold. ⁵ Then Gad the prophet said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.