1 They informed David, saying, “Behold {hinneh: emphatic command}, the Philistines are engaged in battle against Keilah, and they are plundering the threshing floors {goranot: grain processing sites}.”
2 David inquired {sha’al: sought divine guidance} of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Guide}, saying, “Is it right for me to go and strike the Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go; strike the Philistines, and you will save Keilah.”
3 David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid {yareim: filled with fear} here in Judah; how much more, then, if we advance to Keilah against the battle lines {maarkhot: tactical forces} of the Philistines?”
4 So David once more inquired of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Guide}, and the LORD answered, “Arise; go down to Keilah, for I will place the Philistines {Pelishtim: sea people} into your hand.”
5 David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines {pelishtim: coastal raiders}; they carried off their livestock and struck them with a great blow {makka: decisive defeat}. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 And it happened that Abiathar {Evyatar: priestly survivor}, son of Ahimelech, fled to David at Keilah, and he came down with the ephod {ephod: priestly divination garment} in his hand.
7 Saul was told that David had entered Keilah, and Saul said, “God {Elohim, Sovereign Deliverer} has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in {nisgar: secure enclosure} by going into a city with gates and a bar.”
8 Then Saul summoned all the people {kol ha-am: assembled force} for war, to go down to Keilah {qeilah: fortified town} to lay siege to David and his men.
9 David learned that Saul was secretly plotting evil {hara'ah: malicious intent} against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring near the ephod {ephod: sacred vestment}.”
10 David said, “LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, Covenant Defender}, your servant {avdecha: loyal follower} has indeed heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.”
11 “Will the men of Keilah hand me over into his hand? Will Saul go down, just as your servant has heard? O LORD {YHWH, Covenant Revealer}, God of Israel {Elohei Yisrael, National Protector}, please tell your servant {avdecha: covenant representative}.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.”
12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender {hayisgiru: hand over into enemy control} me and my men into Saul’s hand?” And the LORD {YHWH, Revealer of Destiny} said, “They will deliver you.”
13 So David and his men {ish: individual warriors}, about six hundred, rose up and left Keilah, going wherever they were able. When Saul was told that David had escaped {nimlat: successful evasion} from Keilah, he stopped going out.
14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds {metzudot: fortified refuges}, and he remained on the mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him continually, but God {Elohim, Faithful Deliverer} did not give him into Saul’s hand.
15 David understood that Saul had gone out to seek {levakesh: pursue with intent} his life, and David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh {choreshah: wooded place}.
16 Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and he strengthened his hand {yad: personal resolve} in God {Elohim, Source of Courage}.
17 He said to him, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul’s hand {yad: power, agency} will not find you. You will reign over Israel, and I will be your second {misheni: one of second rank}. Even my father Saul knows this.”
18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD {YHWH, Witness to Oaths}. David stayed at Horesh {bechoreshah: wooded place}, and Jonathan went to his house.
19 And the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah to say, “Is not David hiding with us in the strongholds {metzadot: fortified places} in Horesh {horshah: wooded area}, on the hill of Hakilah which lies to the south of Jeshimon?”
20 Now then, O king, come down whenever it matches the desire {avat: longing} of your soul {nafshekha: inner self} to come down, and we will deliver him into the king’s hand.
21 Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD {YHWH, Blessing Bestower}, because you have shown mercy {chamaltem: shown considerate compassion} to me.”
22 Go now and make further preparation; learn and observe the place where his foot {raglo: path} will be—who has seen him there—for I am told that he is crafty {arum: cunning}.
23 Look closely and know all the hiding places where he conceals himself, and return to me with certainty {nakhon: definite information}. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans {alfei: tribal divisions} of Judah.
24 So they rose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah {aravah: semi-desert plain} south {yemin: right-hand direction} of Jeshimon.
25 Saul and his men set out to seek {vaqqesh: determined pursuit} David, and word reached David of their search. He then went down to the rock {sela: fortified refuge} and took up residence in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul learned of this, he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon.
26 Saul went along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the opposite slope. David was hurrying{nachpaz: hastening} to depart from Saul’s presence, and Saul and his men were surrounding{odim: surrounding} David and his men to seize them.
27 But a messenger {malakh: royal envoy} came to Saul and said, “Hurry and go, for the Philistines are invading the land {eretz: Israel’s territory}.”
28 So Saul {Sha’ul: Israel’s king} turned back from chasing David and went to confront the Philistines; therefore that place was called Sela {sela: rocky crag} Hammachlekot.
29 Then David {david: Beloved Leader} went up from there and settled in the strongholds {metsudot: fortified refuges} of En Gedi.