Study Desk

Saul called all the men for war, to go down to Keilah to trap David and his men.

Then David said, "O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for sure that Saul is planning to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me.

David stayed in the safe places in the desert. He stayed in the hill country in the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him every day, but God did not give David to him.

Saul said, "May the Lord bring good to you. For you have had pity on me.

Go and make sure. See where he is, and who has seen him there. For I am told that he is very good at fooling people.

Saul and his men went to look for him, and David was told about it. So he went down to the rock in the desert of Maon.

Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. David was in a hurry to get away from Saul. For Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to take them.

But a man came with news to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have come into the land by surprise to fight us."

So he said to his men, "May the Lord not let me put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord's chosen one."

See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord's chosen one.'

May the Lord judge between you and me. May He punish you for your action against me. But my hand will not be against you.

He said to David, "You are more right and good than I. For you have brought good to me, while I have done wrong to you.

If a man finds the one who hates him, will he let him go away safe? May the Lord bring good to you for what you have done for me this day.

Now I know that you will be king for sure. The nation of Israel will be made strong under your power.

Now Samuel died. All Israel gathered together and was filled with sorrow for him. They buried him at his house in Ramah. Then David got ready and went down to the desert of Paran.

So David sent ten young men, saying to them, "Go up to Carmel. Visit Nabal and greet him for me.

Ask your young men and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a special day. I ask you to give whatever you have ready to your servants and to your son David.'"

Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my wool cutters, and give it to men when I do not know where they came from?"

So know this and think about what you should do. For bad plans have been made against our owner and all his family. He is such a sinful man that no one can speak to him."

Now David had said, "It was for nothing that I have watched over all this man has in the desert, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him. He has paid me bad for good.