ThereforeDavidenquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smitethesePhilistines? And the LORDsaiduntoDavid, Go, and smite the Philistines, and saveKeilah.
So David and his men went to Keilah, and foughtwith the Philistines, and broughtawaytheircattle, and smotethemwith a greatslaughter. So Davidsaved the inhabitants of Keilah.
And it was toldSaulthatDavid was come to Keilah. And Saulsaid, God hathdelivered him intominehand; for he is shut in, by enteringinto a townthathathgates and bars.
Will the men of Keilahdeliver me up into his hand? willSaulcomedown, as thy servanthathheard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseechthee, tell thy servant. And the LORDsaid, He willcomedown.
ThenDavid and his men, whichwereabout six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and wentwhithersoevertheycould go. And it was toldSaulthatDavid was escapedfromKeilah; and he forbare to go forth.
And Davidabode in the wilderness in strongholds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saulsought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
And he saidunto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my fathershall not findthee; and thoushalt be kingoverIsrael, and I shall be nextuntothee; and thatalsoSaul my fatherknoweth.
Thencame up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not Davidhidehimselfwith us in strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
See therefore, and takeknowledge of all the lurkingplaceswhere he hidethhimself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shallcome to pass, if he be in the land, that I willsearch him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
Saulalso and his men went to seek him. And theytoldDavid: wherefore he camedowninto a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And whenSaulheardthat, he pursuedafterDavid in the wilderness of Maon.
And Saulwent on thisside of the mountain, and David and his men on thatside of the mountain: and Davidmadehaste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassedDavid and his men roundabout to takethem.