Chronological
21 Then came Dovid to Nov to Achimelech HaKohen; and Achimelech was afraid at the meeting of Dovid, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no ish with thee?
2 (3) And Dovid said unto Achimelech HaKohen, HaMelech hath commanded me a matter, and hath said unto me, Let no ish know anything of the davar whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee; and I have directed ne’arim to such and such a makom (place).
3 (4) Now therefore what is under thine yad? Give me five lechem in mine yad, or whatever there is found.
4 (5) And the Kohen answered Dovid, and said, There is no lechem chol (ordinary bread) under mine yad, but there is lechem kodesh; if the ne’arim have kept themselves at least from isha.
5 (6) And Dovid answered the Kohen, and said unto him, Indeed isha have been kept from us yesterday and the day before, since I set out, and the vessels of the ne’arim (young men) are kodesh, and if this is a derech chol (ordinary mission) indeed it will remain kodesh today in their vesels.
6 (7) So the Kohen gave him kodesh; for there was no lechem there but the Lechem HaPanim, that was taken from before Hashem, to be replaced with lechem cham on the day when it was taken away.
7 (8) Now a certain ish of the avadim of Sha’ul was there that day, detained before Hashem; shmo Do’eg, the Edomi, the chief of the ro’im that belonged to Sha’ul.
8 (9) And Dovid said unto Achimelech, And is there not here under thine yad khanit or cherev? For I have neither brought my cherev nor my weapons with me, because the devar HaMelech (matter of the King) required haste.
9 (10) And the Kohen said, The cherev of Golyat (Goliath) the Pelishti, whom thou slewest in the Emek Elah, hinei, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other except that here. And Dovid said, There is none like that; give it me.
10 (11) And Dovid arose and fled that day from before Sha’ul, and went to Achish Melech Gat.
11 (12) And the avadim of Achish said unto him, Is not this Dovid Melech HaAretz? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Sha’ul hath slain his thousands, and Dovid his myriads?
12 (13) And Dovid laid up these devarim in his levav, and was very much afraid of Achish Melech Gat.
13 (14) And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself a madman in their hands, and scratched on the daletot hasha’ar, and let his spittle fall down upon his zakan (beard).
14 (15) Then said Achish unto his avadim, Hinei, ye see the man is meshugga; wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
15 (16) Have I need of meshugga’im, that ye have brought this one to play the meshugga in my presence? Shall this one come into my bais?
22 Dovid therefore departed from there, and escaped to the me’arah (cave) of Adullam; and when his brethren and all the bais aviv heard it, they went down there to him.
2 And every ish that was in distress, and every ish that was in debt, and every ish that was mar-nefesh (bitter in spirit, discontented) gathered themselves unto him; and he became Sar over them; and there were with him about arba me’ot ish (four hundred men).
3 And Dovid went from there to Mitzpeh Moav; and he said unto the Melech Moav, Let avi and immi now come out, and be with you, until I know what Elohim will do for me.
4 And he brought them before Melech Moav; and they dwelt with him all the days that Dovid was in the metzudah (stronghold, i.e. Mitzpeh Moav).
5 And Gad HaNavi said unto Dovid, Abide not in the metzudah; depart, and get thee into Eretz Yehudah. Then Dovid departed, and came into the Forest of Cheret.
6 When Sha’ul heard that Dovid was discovered, and the anashim that were with him, (now Sha’ul abode in Giveah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, having his khanit in his yad, and all his avadim were standing about him);
7 Then Sha’ul said unto his avadim that stood about him, Hear now, ye of Binyamin; will Ben Yishai give every one of you sadot and kramim (vineyards), and make you all sarei alafim and sarei me’ot;
8 That all of you have made a kesher against me, and there is none that reveals unto my ear that beni (my son) hath cut a Brit with Ben Yishai, and there is none of you that is concerned for me, or revealeth unto my ear that beni (my son) hath stirred up avdi against me, to lie in wait, as he does today?
9 Then answered Do’eg the Edomi, which was set over the avadim of Sha’ul, and said, I saw Ben Yishai coming to Nov, to Achimelech ben Achituv.
10 And he inquired of Hashem for him, and gave him provision, and gave him the cherev Golyat HaPelishti.
11 Then HaMelech sent to call Achimelech Ben Achituv HaKohen, and kol Bais Aviv, the Kohanim that were in Nov; and they came all of them to HaMelech.
12 And Sha’ul said, Hear now, thou Ben Achituv. And he answered, Hineni, adoni.
13 And Sha’ul said unto him, Why have ye made a kesher against me, thou and Ben Yishai, in that thou hast given him lechem, and a cherev, and hast inquired of Elohim for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as he does this day?
14 Then Achimelech answered HaMelech, and said, And who is so ne’eman (loyal) among all thy avadim as Dovid, which is the Choson HaMelech, obedient to thy bidding, and is honored in thine bais?
15 Did I then begin to inquire of Elohim for him? Chalilah li! Let not HaMelech impute anything unto his eved, nor to all the Bais Avi; for thy eved knew nothing of all this, katon or gadol.
16 And HaMelech said, Thou shalt surely die, Achimelech, thou, and kol Bais Avicha.
17 And HaMelech said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the Kohanim of Hashem; because their yad also is with Dovid, and because they knew when he fled, and did not reveal it in my ear. But the avadim of HaMelech would not put forth their yad to strike the Kohanim of Hashem.
18 And HaMelech said to Do’eg, Turn thou, and strike the Kohanim. And Do’eg the Edomi turned, and he struck the Kohanim, and slaughtered on that day fourscore and five ish that did wear ephod bad (linen robe).
19 And Nov, the Ir of the Kohanim, he struck with the edge of the cherev, both ish and isha, olel and nursing infants, and shor, and chamor, and seh, with the edge of the cherev.
20 And ben echad of Achimelech Ben Achituv, shmo Evyatar (his name Evyatar [Abiathar]), escaped, and fled after Dovid.
21 And Evyatar (Abiathar) told Dovid that Sha’ul had slain the Kohanim of Hashem.
22 And Dovid said unto Evyatar (Abiathar), I knew it that day, when Do’eg the Edomi was there, that he would surely tell Sha’ul. I am mortally responsible for nefesh Bais Avicha.
23 Abide thou with me, fear not; for he that seeketh my nefesh seeketh thy nefesh; but with me thou shalt be mishmeret (in safeguard).
23 Then they told Dovid, saying, Hinei, the Pelishtim fight against Ke’ilah, and they rob the granot (threshing floors).
2 Therefore Dovid inquired of Hashem, saying, Shall I go and strike these Pelishtim? And Hashem said unto Dovid, Go, and strike the Pelishtim, and save Ke’ilah.
3 And Anshei Dovid said unto him, Hinei, Anachnu (we) are afraid here in Yehudah; how much more then if we come to Ke’ilah against the maarkhot (military lines) of the Pelishtim?
4 Then Dovid inquired of Hashem yet again. And Hashem answered him and said, Arise, go down to Ke’ilah; for I will deliver the Pelishtim into thine yad.
5 So Dovid and his anashim went to Ke’ilah, and fought with the Pelishtim, and brought away their livestock, and attacked them with a makkah gedolah (great defeat). So Dovid saved the inhabitants of Ke’ilah.
6 And it came to pass, when Evyatar (Abiathar) Ben Achimelech fled to Dovid to Ke’ilah, that he came down with the Ephod [with oracular lot; see Ex 28,39] in his yad.
7 And it was told Sha’ul that Dovid was come to Ke’ilah. And Sha’ul said, Elohim hath delivered him into mine yad; for he is shut in, by entering into an ir (town) that hath gates and bar.
8 And Sha’ul called kol HaAm together for milchamah, to go down to Ke’ilah, to besiege Dovid and his anashim.
9 And Dovid knew that Sha’ul secretly plotted ra’ah (evil, harm) against him; and he said to Evyatar (Abiathar) HaKohen, Bring here the Ephod.
10 Then said Dovid, Hashem Elohei Yisroel, Thy eved hath certainly heard that Sha’ul seeketh to come to Ke’ilah, to destroy the ir (town) on my account.
11 Will the Ba’alei Ke’ilah (citizens of Ke’ilah) deliver me up into his yad? Will Sha’ul come down, as Thy eved hath heard? Hashem Elohei Yisroel, tell now Thy eved. And Hashem said, He will come down.
12 Then said Dovid, Will the Baalei Ke’ilah shut me and my anashim up into the yad Sha’ul? And Hashem said, They will deliver thee up.
13 Then Dovid and his anashim, which were about shesh me’ot ish, arose and departed out of Ke’ilah, and went wherever they could go. And it was told Sha’ul that Dovid was escaped from Ke’ilah; and he refrained from going forth.
14 And Dovid stayed in the midbar in metzadot (strongholds, masadas) and remained on a har in the midbar Ziph. And Sha’ul searched for him every day, but Elohim delivered him not into his yad.
15 And Dovid saw that Sha’ul was come out to seek his nefesh: and Dovid was in the midbar Ziph at Choresh.
16 And Yonatan Ben Sha’ul arose, and went to Dovid at Choresh, and strengthened his yad in Elohim [i.e., encouraged him in G-d].
17 And he said unto him, Fear not; for the yad Sha’ul Avi shall not find thee; and thou shalt be Melech over Yisroel, and I shall be mishneh (second) unto thee; and that also Sha’ul Avi knoweth.
18 And they two made a brit (covenant) before Hashem; and Dovid stayed at Choresh, and Yonatan went to his bais.
19 Then came up the Ziphim to Sha’ul to Giveah, saying, Doth not Dovid hide himself among us in metzadot (strongholds, masadas) at Choresh, in the hill of Chachilah, which is on the south of Yeshimon?
20 Now therefore, O Melech, come down according to all the desire of thy nefesh to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the yad HaMelech.
21 And Sha’ul said, Berukhim atem l’Hashem (Blessed be ye of Hashem); for ye have compassion on me.
22 Now go, prepare further, and know and see his makom where his hideouts are, and who hath seen him there; for it is told me that he dealeth very craftily.
23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the machavo’im (hideouts) where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you; it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Yehudah.
24 And they arose, and went to Ziph ahead of Sha’ul; but Dovid and his anashim were in the midbar Ma’on, in the Aravah on the south of Yeshimon.
25 Sha’ul also and his anashim went to seek him. When Dovid was told, he descended and came down to the Sela (Rock), and stayed in the midbar Ma’on. And when Sha’ul heard that, he pursued Dovid in the midbar Ma’on.
26 And Sha’ul went on this side of the har, and Dovid and his anashim on that side of the har; and Dovid made haste to get away for fear of Sha’ul; for Sha’ul and his anashim encircled Dovid and his anashim round about to take them.
27 But there came a malach unto Sha’ul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Pelishtim have invaded HaAretz.
28 Wherefore Sha’ul returned from pursuing after Dovid, and went against the Pelishtim; therefore they called that makom Sela HaMachlekot (Rock of Escaping).
29 (24:1) And Dovid went up from there, and dwelt in metzadot at Ein-Gedi.
24 And it came to pass, when Sha’ul was returned from following the Pelishtim, that it was told him, saying, Hinei, Dovid is in the midbar of Ein-Gedi.
2 (3) Then Sha’ul took shloshet alafim (three thousand) chosen men out of kol Yisroel, and went to search for Dovid and his anashim upon [the area known as] Wild Goat Rocks.
3 (4) And he came to the gidrot hatzon (sheep pens of the flock) on the derech, where was a me’arah (cave); and Sha’ul went in to cover his feet [i.e., relieve himself], and Dovid and his anashim remained in the far end of the me’arah (cave).
4 (5) And the anashim of Dovid said unto him, Hinei, the day of which Hashem said unto thee, Hinei, I will deliver thine oyev (enemy) into thine yad, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem tov unto thee. Then Dovid arose, and cut off the corner of the me’il of Sha’ul without his notice.
5 (6) And it came to pass afterward, that the lev Dovid smote him because he had cut off the corner of Sha’ul.
6 (7) And he said unto his anashim, Chalilah (far be it) before Hashem that I should do this thing unto adoni, Hashem’s moshiach, to stretch forth mine yad against him, seeing he is the moshiach of Hashem.
7 (8) So Dovid restrained his anashim with these devarim, and allowed them not to rise against Sha’ul. But Sha’ul rose up out of the me’arah (cave), and went on his derech.
8 (9) Dovid also arose afterward, and went out of the me’arah, and called after Sha’ul, saying, Adoni HaMelech. And when Sha’ul looked behind him, Dovid bowed down with his face to the ground, and prostrated himself.
9 (10) And Dovid said to Sha’ul, Wherefore hearest thou divrei adam, saying, Hinei, Dovid seeketh thy hurt?
10 (11) Hinei, this day thine eyes have seen how that Hashem had delivered thee today into mine yad in the me’arah; and some urged me kill thee; but mine [nefesh] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine yad against adoni; for he is the moshiach of Hashem.
11 (12) Moreover, avi, see, indeed, see the corner of thy me’il (robe) in my yad; for in that I cut off the corner of thy me’il, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither ra’ah nor peysha (rebellion) in mine yad, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my nefesh to take it.
12 (13) Hashem judge between me and thee, and Hashem avenge me on thee; but mine yad shall not be upon thee.
13 (14) As saith the mashal (proverb) of the ancients, Resha (wickedness) proceedeth from the resha’im; but mine yad shall not be upon thee.
14 (15) After whom is the Melech Yisroel come out? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead kelev (dog), after a parosh (flea).
15 (16) Hashem therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and uphold my cause, and deliver me out of thine yad.
16 (17) And it came to pass, when Dovid had made an end of speaking these devarim unto Sha’ul, that Sha’ul said, Is this thy voice, beni Dovid? And Sha’ul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 (18) And he said to Dovid, Thou art more tzaddik than I; for thou hast rewarded me tovah, whereas I have rewarded thee ra’ah.
18 (19) And thou hast shown this day how that thou hast dealt tovah with me; forasmuch as when Hashem had delivered me into thine yad, thou killedst me not.
19 (20) For if an ish find his oyev, will he let him go bederech tovah? Wherefore Hashem reward thee tovah for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20 (21) And now, hinei, I know that thou shalt surely be Melech, and that the Mamlechet Yisroel shall be established in thine yad.
21 (22) Swear now therefore unto me by Hashem, that thou wilt not cut off my zera after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my shem out of the Bais Avi.
22 (23) And Dovid swore unto Sha’ul. And Sha’ul went to his bais; but Dovid and his anashim went up unto the metzudah (stronghold, masada).
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