Study Desk

So Saul said to Doeg, "You kill them!"—and Doeg killed them all. On that day he killed eighty-five priests who were qualified to carry the ephod.

David said to him, "When I saw Doeg there that day, I knew that he would be sure to tell Saul. So I am responsible for the death of all your relatives.

So he asked the Lord , "Shall I go and attack the Philistines?" "Yes," the Lord answered. "Attack them and save Keilah."

So David consulted the Lord again, and the Lord said to him, "Go and attack Keilah, because I will give you victory over the Philistines."

So David and his men went to Keilah and attacked the Philistines; they killed many of them and took their livestock. And so it was that David saved the town.

So Saul called his troops to war, to march against Keilah and besiege David and his men.

So David and his men—about six hundred in all—left Keilah at once and kept on the move. When Saul heard that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up his plan.

We know, Your Majesty, how much you want to capture him; so come to our territory, and we will make sure that you catch him."

Saul answered, "May the Lord bless you for being so kind to me!

So they left and returned to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in a desolate valley in the southern part of the Judean wilderness.

So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill.

So David convinced his men that they should not attack Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and started away.

You know the old saying, ‘Evil is done only by evil people.' And so I will not harm you.

Then he said to David, "You are right, and I am wrong. You have been so good to me, while I have done such wrong to you!

But promise me in the Lord 's name that you will spare my descendants, so that my name and my family's name will not be completely forgotten."

so he sent ten young men with orders to go to Carmel, find Nabal, and give him his greetings.

Please think this over and decide what to do. This could be disastrous for our master and all his family. He is so mean that he won't listen to anybody!"

Abigail went back to Nabal, who was at home having a feast fit for a king. He was drunk and in a good mood, so she did not tell him anything until the next morning.

So that night David and Abishai entered Saul's camp and found Saul sleeping in the center of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were sleeping around him.

So David took the spear and the water jar from right beside Saul's head, and he and Abishai left. No one saw it or knew what had happened or even woke up—they were all sound asleep, because the Lord had sent a heavy sleep on them all.