David Delivers Keilah 1 Brenton And it was told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines war in Keila, and they rob, they trample on the threshing-floors. BSB BSB: Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”
2 Brenton And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said, Go, and thou shalt smite these Philistines, and shalt save Keila. BSB BSB: So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3 Brenton And the men of David said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judea; and how shall it be if we go to Keila? shall we go after the spoils of the Philistines? BSB BSB: But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4 Brenton And David enquired yet again of the Lord; and the Lord answered him, and said to him, Arise and go down to Keila, for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hands. BSB BSB: Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
5 Brenton So David and his men with him went to Keila, and fought with the Philistines; and they fled from before him, and he carried off their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter, and David rescued the inhabitants of Keila. BSB BSB: Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.
6 Brenton And it came to pass when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David, that he went down with David to Keila, having an ephod in his hand. BSB BSB: (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
Saul Pursues David (Psalm 54:1–7)
7 Brenton And it was told Saul that David was come to Keila: and Saul said, God has sold him into my hands, for he is shut up, having entered into a city that has gates and bars. BSB BSB: When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
8 Brenton And Saul charged all the people to go down to war to Keila, to besiege David and his men. BSB BSB: Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9 Brenton And David knew that Saul spoke openly of mischief against him: and David said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod of the Lord. BSB BSB: When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10 Brenton And David said, Lord God of Israel, thy servant has indeed heard, that Saul seeks to come against Keila to destroy the city on my account. BSB BSB: And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.
11 Brenton Will the place be shut up? and now will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, It will be shut up. BSB BSB: Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.
13 Brenton And David arose, and the men with him, in number about four hundred, and they went forth from Keila, and went whithersoever they could go: and it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keila, and he forbore to come. BSB BSB: Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.
14 Brenton And he dwelt in Maserem in the wilderness, in the narrow passes ; and dwelt in the wilderness in mount Ziph, in the dry country. And Saul sought him continually, but the Lord delivered him not into his hands. BSB BSB: And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.
15 Brenton And David perceived that Saul went forth to seek David; and David was in the dry mountain in the New Ziph. BSB BSB: While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.
16 Brenton And Jonathan son of Saul rose, and went to David to Cæne, and strengthened his hands in the Lord. BSB BSB: And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
17 Brenton And he said to him, Fear not, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be second to thee; and Saul my father knows it. BSB BSB: saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
18 Brenton So they both made a covenant before the Lord; and David dwelt in Cæne, and Jonathan went to his home. BSB BSB: So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
19 Brenton And the Ziphites came up out of the dry country to Saul to the hill, saying, Behold, is not David hidden with us in Messara, in the narrows in Cæne in the hill of Echela, which is on the right of Jessæmon? BSB BSB: Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
20 Brenton And now according to all the king's desire to come down, let him come down to us; they have shut him up into the hands of the king. BSB BSB: Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”
21 Brenton And Saul said to them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, for ye have been grieved on my account. BSB BSB: “May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.
22 Brenton Go, I pray you, and make preparations yet, and notice his place where his foot shall be, quickly, in that place which ye spoke of, lest by any means he should deal craftily. BSB BSB: Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning.
23 Brenton Take notice, then, and learn, and I will go with you; and it shall come to pass that if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Juda. BSB BSB: Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”
24 Brenton And the Ziphites arose, and went before Saul: and David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, westward, to the right of Jessæmon. BSB BSB: So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,
25 Brenton And Saul and his men went to seek him: and they brought word to David, and he went down to the rock that was in the wilderness of Maon: and Saul heard, and followed after David to the wilderness of Maon. BSB BSB: and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.
26 Brenton And Saul and his men go on one side of the mountain, and David and his men are on the other side of the mountain: and David was hiding himself to escape from Saul: and Saul and his men encamped against David and his men, in order to take them. BSB BSB: Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
27 Brenton And there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come hither, for the Philistines have invaded the land. BSB BSB: Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”
28 Brenton So Saul returned from following after David, and went to meet the Philistines: therefore that place was called The divided Rock. BSB BSB: So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.
29 Brenton And David rose up from thence, and dwelt in the narrow passes of Engaddi. BSB BSB: And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.