Study Desk

One day the prophet Gad told David, "Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah." So David went to the forest of Hereth.

Then the king said to Doeg, "You do it." So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.

So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, "Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines."

So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah.

So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men.

So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn't go to Keilah after all.

So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord . Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

So the men of Ziph returned home ahead of Saul. Meanwhile, David and his men had moved into the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah Valley south of Jeshimon.

So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape.

So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

"Now's your opportunity!" David's men whispered to him. "Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.'" So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul's robe.

So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,

As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.' So you can be sure I will never harm you.

So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.

Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David."

So David's young men returned and told him what Nabal had said.

You need to know this and figure out what to do, for there is going to be trouble for our master and his whole family. He's so ill-tempered that no one can even talk to him!"

When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn't tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day.

Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her servant girls as attendants, mounted her donkey, and went with David's messengers. And so she became his wife.

So Saul took 3,000 of Israel's elite troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph.