Study Desk

So David left there and ran to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all those of his father's house heard about it, they went down there to him.

Then he left them with the king of Moab. They stayed with him all the time that David was in his safe place.

Now Saul heard that David and the men with him had been found. Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the high place with his spear in his hand. All his servants were standing around him.

Saul said to his servants who stood around him, "Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and grape fields? Will he make you all leaders of thousands and hundreds?

Then the king sent someone to call Ahimelech the religious leader, son of Ahitub, and all those of his father's family, the religious leaders who were in Nob. And all of them came to the king.

Is today the first time that I have asked things of God for him? No! Do not let the king do anything wrong to his servant or any of those of my father's family. For your servant knows nothing at all about this."

So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He killed many of them and took away their cattle. And David saved the people of Keilah.

When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech ran to David at Keilah, he came with a linen vest in his hand.

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

Then David and his men, about 600, got up and left Keilah. They went where they could go. When Saul was told that David had run away from Keilah, he gave up going there.

Look and learn about all his hiding places, and return to me with news that is sure. Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of Judah."

Then they got up and went to Ziph before Saul. Now David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the Arabah, south of Jeshimon.

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.

Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel, and went to find David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

He came to the places where the sheep were kept on the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to get rid of his body waste. Now David and his men were sitting farther back in the cave.

After this, David felt guilty in his heart because he had cut off a piece of Saul's clothing.

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."

David stopped his men with these words. He did not let them go against Saul. So Saul stood up and left the cave, and went on his way.

After this David got up and went out of the cave and called to Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David put his face to the ground, showing much respect.