Old/New Testament
Further Stops on David’s Flight
22 So David departed from there and escaped to the cave at Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s entire household heard about it, they went down to join him there. 2 Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. There were about four hundred men with him.
3 David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you, until I find out what God will do for me.” 4 So he brought them to the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time that David was in the stronghold.
5 The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Leave and go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the Forest of Hereth.
The Massacre of the Priests
6 Saul heard that David and the men with him had been located.
Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on an elevated location in Gibeah. He had his spear in his hand, and all his attendants were standing around him. 7 Saul said to his attendants who were standing around him, “Listen, you Benjaminites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over thousands and officers over hundreds? 8 So why have all of you conspired against me? Why is there no one who informs me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse? Why is there not one of you who sympathizes with me or informs me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, so that he is waiting to ambush me, as he is today?”
9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing beside Saul’s attendants, replied, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 The priest inquired of the Lord for him and gave him supplies and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 Then the king summoned the priest, Ahimelek son of Ahitub, along with all of his father’s house, that is, all the priests who were in Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen, you son of Ahitub.”
He answered, “I am listening, my lord.”
13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he can rise up against me and lie in ambush, as he is doing today?”
14 Then Ahimelek answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the head of your elite troops,[a] and is honored in your house. 15 Have I just begun to inquire of God for him today? Certainly not! The king should not charge anything against his servant or against all the house of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all about this matter, in whole or in part.”
16 The king said, “You shall certainly die, Ahimelek, you and all your father’s house.” 17 Then the king said to the bodyguards[b] who were standing around him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand too is with David. They knew that he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.”
But the attendants of the king would not raise a hand against the priests of the Lord.
18 The king said to Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests!”
Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the special linen garment.[c] 19 He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing babies, as well as cattle, donkeys, and sheep—all of them with the edge of the sword. 20 But one of the sons of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, whose name was Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.
21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests.
22 David said to Abiathar, “On that day when Doeg the Edomite was present, I knew without a doubt that he would tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the members of your father’s house. 23 Stay with me. Do not be afraid, for the one who seeks my life also seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”
David and the People of Keilah
23 David was told, “Here’s news! The Philistines are fighting against Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.”
2 So David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?”
The Lord said to David, “Go strike the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Look how afraid we are here in Judah! How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines!”
4 Then David inquired of the Lord again, and the Lord answered him, “Set out and go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought against the Philistines. He took away their livestock and struck a heavy blow against the Philistines. David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 (When Abiathar son of Ahimelek fled with David to Keilah, he had brought the special vest, which was in his possession.)
7 When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, since David has trapped himself by entering a city that has barred gates.” 8 Then Saul summoned all the fighting men to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 David knew that Saul was planning to harm him, so he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the special vest here.” 10 Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has heard a specific report that Saul plans to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me. 11 Will the citzens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, God of Israel, please tell your servant.”
The Lord said, “He will come down.”
12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?”
The Lord said, “They will hand you over.”
13 Then David and his men, who numbered about six hundred, immediately departed from Keilah and went wherever they could.[d] When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up his plan to go there.
David in the Wilderness of Ziph
14 David stayed in the strongholds in the wilderness. He remained in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. 15 David knew that Saul had come to seek his life.
David was at Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph. 16 Saul’s son Jonathan set out and came to David at Horesh. There he strengthened his hand in God. 17 He said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of my father Saul will not find you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” 18 They both made a covenant before the Lord. Then David stayed at Horesh, and Jonathan returned home.
19 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Do you know that David is hiding near us in the strongholds at Horesh near the Hill of Hakilah, in the southern part of the badlands?[e] 20 So now, O King, come down! Come down whenever you wish to come, and our role will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
21 Saul said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have sympathized with me. 22 Go and make sure that you know exactly where he is and who has seen him there, for I have been told that he is very wily. 23 Make sure that you know all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with solid information. Then I will come with you. If he is in the land, you can be sure that I will hunt him down among all the thousands of Judah.” 24 So Saul’s men set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul.
Meanwhile David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah,[f] south of the badlands.
David in the Wilderness of Maon
25 Saul and his men went to look for David. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side. David hurried to get away from Saul and his men, who were trying to surround David and his men in order to capture them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul and said, “Hurry! Come back, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!” 28 So Saul turned back from pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. That is why that place is named Sela Hamahlekoth.[g]
David and Saul at En Gedi
29 Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En Gedi.[h]
24 When Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “Here’s some news. David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.”[i] 2 Then Saul took three thousand specially chosen men[j] from all Israel and went to hunt for David and his men along the rocky slopes of the wild goats.[k]
3 Saul came to some sheep pens that were along that route. Saul went into a cave that was there to relieve himself.[l] At that time David and his men were far back in the interior of the cave.
4 David’s men said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about when he said, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you will do to him whatever seems good to you.’” So David got up and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe without being noticed.
5 Afterward, David had a guilty conscience, because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “May I be cursed if I do something like this to my master, who is the Lord’s anointed—that I would stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 With these words David restrained his men and did not allow them to attack Saul.
Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way. 8 David got up and followed him out of the cave and shouted to him, “My lord the king!”
When Saul looked back at him, David bowed facedown to the ground to show respect. 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Watch out! David is seeking to harm you’? 10 This very day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you, because I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my master, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 Take a look at this! My father, take a good look at the piece of your robe that is here in my hand. Because I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, you can be sure that I do not have any evil intent and I am not rebelling. I have not sinned against you, even though you keep hunting for me to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you. 13 As the ancient proverb says, ‘Out of the wicked come wicked deeds,’ but my hand will not be against you. 14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? What are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord, therefore, be the judge who renders a verdict between you and me. May he examine my case, plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16 When David had finished speaking these words, Saul responded, “Is that your voice, David, my son?” Saul broke down and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have made it clear today how you have been good to me, because when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 If a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? May the Lord reward you with good for what you have done for me today. 20 Now I know without a doubt that you will become king, and that the kingship over Israel will be established in your hand. 21 So 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 from my father’s house.”
22 David promised this to Saul with an oath.
Saul went back home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Warning Against Hypocrisy
12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands gathered together so that they were trampling on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 So then, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Fear God, Not People
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that are not able to do any more. 5 But I will show you the one you should fear. Fear him who, after he has killed the body, has authority to throw it into hell.[a] Yes, I tell you, fear him!
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?[b] And not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 Why, even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So stop being afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
Confess Christ
8 “I tell you, whoever confesses me before other people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. 9 But whoever denies me in the presence of other people will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourself, or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you should say.”
The Rich Fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me to be a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because a man’s life is not measured by how many possessions he has.”
16 He told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced very well. 17 He was thinking to himself, ‘What will I do, because I do not have anywhere to store my crops?’ 18 He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and goods. 19 And I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your soul will be demanded from you. Now who will get what you have prepared?’
21 “That is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry
22 Jesus said to his disciples, “For that reason I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Certainly life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 And who of you by worrying can add a single moment to his lifespan? 26 Since you are not able to do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 28 If this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? 29 Do not constantly chase after what you will eat or what you will drink. Do not be worried about it. 30 To be sure, the nations of the world chase after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, continue to seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.