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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. 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.

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.” So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time[e] that David was in the stronghold. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 22:1 tn Heb “house.”
  2. 1 Samuel 22:2 tn Heb “bitter of soul.”
  3. 1 Samuel 22:2 tn Heb “to.”
  4. 1 Samuel 22:3 tn Heb “go forth.”
  5. 1 Samuel 22:4 tn Heb “all the days.”

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David ·left Gath [L went from there] and ·escaped to [took refuge in] the cave of Adullam [C in the lowlands of Judah, southwest of Jerusalem]. When his brothers and ·other relatives [L his father’s household] heard that he was there, they went to ·see him [join him; L him]. Everyone who was in ·trouble [distress], or ·who owed money [in debt], or who was ·unsatisfied [discontented; had a grievance] gathered around David, and he became their ·leader [captain; commander]. About four hundred men were with him.

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and spoke to the king of Moab. He said, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God ·is going [intends] to do for me.” So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was hiding in the stronghold.

But the prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. ·Go [Return] to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

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