Study Desk

Then King Saul ordered some men to bring the priest to him. Saul told them to bring Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all his relatives who were priests at Nob. So all of them came to the king.

So the king gave the order to Doeg. Saul said, "Doeg, you go kill the priests." So Doeg the Edomite went and killed the priests. That day he killed 85 men who were priests.

So David and his men went to Keilah. David's men fought the Philistines. They defeated them and took their cattle. In this way David saved the people of Keilah.

So David and his men left Keilah. There were about 600 men who went with David. They kept moving from place to place. Saul learned that David had escaped from Keilah, so he did not go to that city.

So those people went back to Ziph before Saul. David and his men were in the desert of Maon, south of Jeshimon.

Saul and his men went to look for David, but the people warned him. They told David that Saul was looking for him. So David then went down to "The Rock" in the desert of Maon. Saul heard that David had gone there, so Saul went to that place to find him.

So Saul stopped chasing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why people call this place "Slippery Rock."

So Saul chose 3000 men from all over Israel and began searching for David and his men. They looked near Wild Goat Rocks.

Saul came to some sheep pens beside the road. There was a cave near there, so Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were deep inside that same cave.

David's men told him, "This is day the Lord told you about when he said, ‘I will give your enemy to you, and you can do whatever you want to him.'" So David crawled closer and closer to Saul and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Saul didn't notice what happened.

So David made a promise to Saul. He promised that he would not kill Saul's family. Then Saul went back home. David and his men went back up to the fort.

David's response was, "Put on your swords." So David and his men put on their swords. About 400 men went with David while 200 of them stayed with the supplies.

So don't do anything that would make you guilty of killing innocent people. Please don't fall into that trap. Please remember me when the Lord blesses you."

Abigail went back to Nabal, who was in the house. He had been eating like a king, and he was drunk and feeling good. So Abigail told Nabal nothing until the next morning.

The next morning, Nabal was sober, so his wife told him everything. He had a heart attack and became as stiff as a rock.

Abigail quickly got on a donkey and brought five of her maids with her. They followed David's messengers. So Abigail became David's wife.

So David sent out spies to know for certain that Saul had come after him again.

So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul's head, and then David and Abishai left Saul's camp. No one knew what had happened. No one saw it. No one even woke up. Saul and all of his soldiers slept because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

David said, "You are an important man, aren't you? You are better than any other man in Israel. Is that right? So why didn't you guard your master, the king? An ordinary man came into your camp to kill your master, the king.

Then Saul said, "David, my son! I have sinned. Come back. Today you showed me that my life is important to you, so I won't try to hurt you. I have acted foolishly. I have made a big mistake."