Beginning
David at Nob
21 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelek the priest. And Ahimelek trembled coming to meet David and said to him, “Why are you alone and no man is with you?”
2 And David said to Ahimelek the priest, “The king commanded me a matter and said to me, ‘Let no man know anything of the business which I am sending you and what I have commanded you.’ But to the young men I made known a certain place to meet. 3 Now therefore what is in your hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.”
4 The priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread at hand. But there is holy bread, if the young men have indeed been kept from women.”
5 David answered the priest and said to him, “Indeed women have been kept from us. As previously, when I went out the vessels of the young men were holy even if it was an ordinary journey. How much more then today will their vessels be holy?” 6 So the priest gave him holy bread. For there was no bread there but the showbread that was removed from before the Lord, in order to place hot bread there on the day when it was taken away.
7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. And his name was Doeg, the Edomite, chief of the shepherds of Saul.
8 David said to Ahimelek, “Is there not a spear or a sword here at hand? For neither my sword nor my weapons did I bring with me, because the king’s business was urgent.”
9 The priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is none other but that here.”
And David said, “There is none like it. Give it me.”
David Flees to Gath
10 David arose and fled that day from Saul. And he went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 The servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing with dances for him, saying,
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’? ”
12 And David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish the king of Gath. 13 Therefore he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands. And he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
14 Then said Achish to his servants, “You see the man is acting like a madman. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Am I one who lacks lunatics, that you brought this one to behave as a madman in my presence? Will this man come into my house?”
David Protects His Parents
22 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down to him there. 2 There gathered to him every one that was in distress, and every one in debt, and every one that was discontented. So he became captain over them. Now there were with him about four hundred men.
3 Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come forth and be with you until I know what God will do for me.” 4 He brought them before the king of Moab, and they lived with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.
5 The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah.” So David went and came to the forest of Hereth.
Saul Kills the Priests of Nob
6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him were discovered, Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the hill with his spear in his hand. And all his servants were standing about him. 7 Saul said to his servants that stood about him, “Hear now, Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he appoint you all as captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? 8 You have all conspired against me, and no one revealed to me that my son made a covenant with the son of Jesse. And not one of you is grieved for me and revealed it to me that my son raised up my servant against me to ambush me as at this day.”
9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was chief over the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelek the son of Ahitub. 10 And he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. And he gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 So the king sent to summon Ahimelek the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub!”
And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.”
13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you gave him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me to ambush me, as at this day?”
14 Then Ahimelek answered the king and said, “And who is as faithful among all your servants as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, chief of your bodyguard, and is honored in your house? 15 Did I just today begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king assign any blame to his servant, or to all the house of my father. For your servant has known nothing of all this matter, whether small or great.”
16 The king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and all your father’s house.”
17 The king said to the guards standing near him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand is with David. And because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me.”
But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to attack the priests of the Lord.
18 The king said to Doeg, “You turn and fall upon the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword. Both men and women, children and babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep, he struck with the edge of the sword.
David, Protector of the Priestly Line
20 But one of the sons of Ahimelek the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 Abiathar reported to David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 David said to Abiathar, “I knew it that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house. 23 Remain with me. Do not fear. For the one who seeks my life seeks your life, but you are safe with me.”
David Saves Keilah
23 Then they told David, “Listen, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are looting the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and rescue Keilah.”
3 The men of David said to him, “We are afraid here in Judah. How much more then, if we go down to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4 Then David again inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah because I am giving the Philistines into your hand.” 5 Then David and his men went to Keilah. He fought with the Philistines and carried off their livestock, and he struck them with a great slaughter. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelek fled to David at Keilah, he came down with the ephod in his hand.
Saul Pursues David
7 It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand. For he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars.” 8 Then Saul summoned all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 David found out that Saul was planning evil against him. So he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod near.” 10 And David said, “O Lord, God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on account of me. 11 Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O Lord, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”
And the Lord said, “He will come down.”
12 Then said David, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”
And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”
13 So David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and left Keilah. And they went wherever they could go. Now it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah. So he halted the expedition.
14 And David remained in the wilderness in strongholds, and dwelled in mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
15 Now David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh. 16 Jonathan, the son of Saul, arose and went to David at Horesh. And he strengthened his hand in God. 17 He said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father will not find you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you. Saul my father knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.
19 Then the Ziphites went up to Saul to Gibeah saying, “Is David not hiding himself with us in strongholds in Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, which is south of Jeshimon? 20 Now, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down. And our part will be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”
21 Saul said, “Blessed are you of the Lord. For you have had compassion on me. 22 Please go, make sure again. Investigate and see the place where his foot rests, and who has seen him there. For it has been said to me that he is very cunning. 23 So look and learn about all the hiding places where he hides himself. And come to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it will be that if he is in the land, then I will track him throughout all the clans of Judah.”
24 So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the desert south of Jeshimon. 25 Saul and his men went to seek him, but they told David. Therefore he came down to the Rock, and lived in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon.
26 Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David hurried to get away from Saul. Now Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul saying, “Hurry and go! For the Philistines have invaded the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and he went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape. 29 David then went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.
David Spares Saul’s Life
24 When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, it was reported to him, saying, “David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the rocks of the wild goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens by the way and a cave was there. And Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the rear of the cave. 4 The men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘I am giving your enemy into your hand. You may do with him as seems good in your eyes.’ ” Then David arose and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward David’s heart troubled him because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him. For he is anointed of the Lord.” 7 So David dispersed his men by these words and did not let them rise against Saul. And Saul arose from the cave and went on his way.
8 David arose afterward and went out from the cave. And he called after Saul saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David had bowed down with his face to the ground and paid homage. 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men saying, ‘David seeks your harm’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave. So that some said to kill you, but my eye had compassion on you. And I said, ‘I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is anointed of the Lord.’ 11 See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand. Indeed, I cut off the corner of your robe, but I did not kill you. Observe and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I have not sinned against you, but you are lying in wait for my life to take it. 12 The Lord will judge between me and you, and the Lord will avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness,’ but my hand will not be against you.
14 “After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? A single flea? 15 May the Lord be judge, and decide between me and you. And may He see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16 When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I. For you have rewarded me with good, while I have rewarded you with evil. 18 And you have shown today that you have dealt well with me, when the Lord delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him safely go away? Therefore may the Lord reward you well for what you have done for me this day. 20 Now, listen, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 Therefore swear to me now by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s household.”
22 So David swore to Saul and Saul went home. But David and his men went up to the stronghold.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.