1 Samuel 23
WEB·1 Samuel 23
1David was told, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.”
KJVThen they toldH5046(H8686) DavidH1732, sayingH559(H8800), Behold, the PhilistinesH6430 fightH3898(H8737) against KeilahH7084, and they robH8154(H8802) the threshingfloorsH1637.
2 Therefore David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” Yahweh said to David, “Go strike the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
KJVTherefore DavidH1732 enquiredH7592(H8799) of the LORDH3068, sayingH559(H8800), Shall I goH3212(H8799) and smiteH5221(H8689) these PhilistinesH6430? And the LORDH3068 saidH559(H8799) unto DavidH1732, GoH3212(H8798), and smiteH5221(H8689) the PhilistinesH6430, and saveH3467(H8689) KeilahH7084.
3 David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
KJVAnd David'sH1732 menH582 saidH559(H8799) unto him, Behold, we be afraidH3373 here in JudahH3063: how much more then if we comeH3212(H8799) to KeilahH7084 against the armiesH4634 of the PhilistinesH6430?
4 Then David inquired of Yahweh yet again. Yahweh answered him, and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
KJVThen DavidH1732 enquiredH7592(H8800) of the LORDH3068 yet againH3254(H8686). And the LORDH3068 answeredH6030(H8799) him and saidH559(H8799), AriseH6965(H8798), go downH3381(H8798) to KeilahH7084; for I will deliverH5414(H8802) the PhilistinesH6430 into thine handH3027.
5 David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their livestock, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
KJVSo DavidH1732 and his menH582 wentH3212(H8799) to KeilahH7084, and foughtH3898(H8735) with the PhilistinesH6430, and brought awayH5090(H8799) their cattleH4735, and smoteH5221(H8686) them with a greatH1419 slaughterH4347. So DavidH1732 savedH3467(H8686) the inhabitantsH3427(H8802) of KeilahH7084.
6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
KJVAnd it came to pass, when AbiatharH54 the sonH1121 of AhimelechH288 fledH1272(H8800) to DavidH1732 to KeilahH7084, that he came downH3381(H8804) with an ephodH646 in his handH3027.
7 Saul was told that David had come to Keilah. Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars.”
KJVAnd it was toldH5046(H8714) SaulH7586 that DavidH1732 was comeH935(H8804) to KeilahH7084. And SaulH7586 saidH559(H8799), GodH430 hath deliveredH5234(H8765) him into mine handH3027; for he is shut inH5462(H8738), by enteringH935(H8800) into a townH5892 that hath gatesH1817 and barsH1280.
8 Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
KJVAnd SaulH7586 calledH8085 all the peopleH5971 togetherH8085(H8762) to warH4421, to go downH3381(H8800) to KeilahH7084, to besiegeH6696(H8800) DavidH1732 and his menH582.
9 David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
KJVAnd DavidH1732 knewH3045(H8799) that SaulH7586 secretly practisedH2790(H8688) mischiefH7451 against him; and he saidH559(H8799) to AbiatharH54 the priestH3548, Bring hitherH5066(H8685) the ephodH646.
10 Then David said, “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
KJVThen saidH559(H8799) DavidH1732, O LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478, thy servantH5650 hath certainlyH8085(H8800) heardH8085(H8804) that SaulH7586 seekethH1245(H8764) to comeH935(H8800) to KeilahH7084, to destroyH7843(H8763) the cityH5892 for my sake.
11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Yahweh, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant.” Yahweh said, “He will come down.”
KJVWill the menH1167 of KeilahH7084 deliver me upH5462(H8686) into his handH3027? will SaulH7586 come downH3381(H8799), as thy servantH5650 hath heardH8085(H8804)? O LORDH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478, I beseech thee, tellH5046(H8685) thy servantH5650. And the LORDH3068 saidH559(H8799), He will come downH3381(H8799).
12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” Yahweh said, “They will deliver you up.”
KJVThen saidH559(H8799) DavidH1732, Will the menH1167 of KeilahH7084 deliverH5462(H8686) me and my menH582 into the handH3027 of SaulH7586? And the LORDH3068 saidH559(H8799), They will deliver thee upH5462(H8686).
13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there.
KJVThen DavidH1732 and his menH582, which were about sixH8337 hundredH3967H376, aroseH6965(H8799) and departedH3318(H8799) out of KeilahH7084, and wentH1980(H8691) whithersoeverH834 they could goH1980(H8691). And it was toldH5046(H8717) SaulH7586 that DavidH1732 was escapedH4422(H8738) from KeilahH7084; and he forbareH2308(H8799) to go forthH3318(H8800).
14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand.
KJVAnd DavidH1732 abodeH3427(H8799) in the wildernessH4057 in strong holdsH4679, and remainedH3427(H8799) in a mountainH2022 in the wildernessH4057 of ZiphH2128. And SaulH7586 soughtH1245(H8762) him every dayH3117, but GodH430 deliveredH5414(H8804) him not into his handH3027.
15 David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods.
KJVAnd DavidH1732 sawH7200(H8799) that SaulH7586 was come outH3318(H8804) to seekH1245(H8763) his lifeH5315: and DavidH1732 was in the wildernessH4057 of ZiphH2128 in a woodH2793.
16 Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
KJVAnd JonathanH3083 Saul'sH7586 sonH1121 aroseH6965(H8799), and wentH3212(H8799) to DavidH1732 into the woodH2793, and strengthenedH2388(H8762) his handH3027 in GodH430.
17 He said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.”
KJVAnd he saidH559(H8799) unto him, FearH3372(H8799) not: for the handH3027 of SaulH7586 my fatherH1 shall not findH4672(H8799) thee; and thou shalt be kingH4427(H8799) over IsraelH3478, and I shall be nextH4932 unto thee; and that also SaulH7586 my fatherH1 knowethH3045(H8802).
18 They both made a covenant before Yahweh. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house.
KJVAnd they twoH8147 madeH3772(H8799) a covenantH1285 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068: and DavidH1732 abodeH3427(H8799) in the woodH2793, and JonathanH3083 wentH1980(H8804) to his houseH1004.
19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
KJVThen came upH5927(H8799) the ZiphitesH2130 to SaulH7586 to GibeahH1390, sayingH559(H8800), Doth not DavidH1732 hideH5641(H8693) himself with us in strong holdsH4679 in the woodH2793, in the hillH1389 of HachilahH2444, which is on the southH3225 of JeshimonH3452?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
KJVNow therefore, O kingH4428, come downH3381(H8798) according to all the desireH185 of thy soulH5315 to come downH3381(H8800); and our part shall be to deliverH5462(H8687) him into the king'sH4428 handH3027.
21 Saul said, “You are blessed by Yahweh, for you have had compassion on me.
KJVAnd SaulH7586 saidH559(H8799), BlessedH1288(H8803) be ye of the LORDH3068; for ye have compassionH2550(H8804) on me.
22 Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he is very cunning.
KJVGoH3212(H8798), I pray you, prepareH3559(H8685) yet, and knowH3045(H8798) and seeH7200(H8798) his placeH4725 where his hauntH7272 is, and who hath seenH7200(H8804) him there: for it is toldH559(H8804) me that he dealeth veryH6191(H8800) subtillyH6191(H8686).
23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself; and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you. It shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”
KJVSeeH7200(H8798) therefore, and take knowledgeH3045(H8798) of all the lurking placesH4224 where he hidethH2244(H8691) himself, and come ye againH7725(H8804) to me with the certaintyH3559(H8737), and I will goH1980(H8804) with you: and it shall come to pass, if he beH3426 in the landH776, that I will searchH2664(H8765) him out throughout all the thousandsH505 of JudahH3063.
24 They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.
KJVAnd they aroseH6965(H8799), and wentH3212(H8799) to ZiphH2128 beforeH6440 SaulH7586: but DavidH1732 and his menH582 were in the wildernessH4057 of MaonH4584, in the plainH6160 on the southH3225 of JeshimonH3452.
25 Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, 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.
KJVSaulH7586 also and his menH582 wentH3212(H8799) to seekH1245(H8763) him. And they toldH5046(H8686) DavidH1732: wherefore he came downH3381(H8799) into a rockH5553, and abodeH3427(H8799) in the wildernessH4057 of MaonH4584. And when SaulH7586 heardH8085(H8799) that, he pursuedH7291(H8799) afterH310 DavidH1732 in the wildernessH4057 of MaonH4584.
26 Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
KJVAnd SaulH7586 wentH3212(H8799) on this sideH6654 of the mountainH2022, and DavidH1732 and his menH582 on that sideH6654 of the mountainH2022: and DavidH1732 made hasteH2648(H8737) to get awayH3212(H8800) for fearH6440 of SaulH7586; for SaulH7586 and his menH582 compassedH5849 DavidH1732 and his menH582 round aboutH5849(H8802) to takeH8610(H8800) them.
27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”
KJVBut there cameH935(H8804) a messengerH4397 unto SaulH7586, sayingH559(H8800), HasteH4116(H8761) thee, and comeH3212(H8798); for the PhilistinesH6430 have invadedH6584(H8804) the landH776.
28 So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
KJVWherefore SaulH7586 returnedH7725(H8799) from pursuingH7291(H8800) afterH310 DavidH1732, and wentH3212(H8799) againstH7125(H8800) the PhilistinesH6430: therefore they calledH7121(H8804) that placeH4725 SelahammahlekothH5555.
29 David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.
KJVAnd DavidH1732 went upH5927(H8799) from thence, and dweltH3427(H8799) in strong holdsH4679 at EngediH5872.
1 Samuel 23
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