Study Desk

And Jonathan, Sauls son, arose and went to David in the forest, and strengthened his hands in God.

And they two made a covenant in the valley before the LORD (who sits upon the cherubim). And Jonathan went to his house.

Return and search and find the place where his haunt is and learn who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very subtle.

So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain by the side of the desert.

And Saul and his men went to seek David. And they told David: therefore he came down to Selah and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.

And Saul went on one side of the mountain and David and his men on the other side of the mountain: and David made haste to flee from Saul; for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the mountains of the wild goats.

And he came to the sheepfolds on the way where there was a cave; and Saul went into the cave and lay down there; and David and his men were staying on the slope of the cave.

So David restrained the men who were with him with these words, and did not permit them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way.

David also arose afterward and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and did him obeisance.

And when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said to him, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

For when a man finds his enemy, and lets him go free, the LORD will reward him with good; wherefore the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

So David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home; but David and the men who were with him went up to Mizpeh.

AND Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together and mourned for him, and buried him in his grave at Ramtha. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

And there was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very wealthy; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats; and it came to pass, that he sheared his sheep in Carmel.

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife was Abigail; and she was a beautiful woman, and of a beautiful countenance; but the man Nabal was harsh and evil in his doings, and like a dog.

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.

And Nabal answered Davids servants, and said, Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who have broken away every man from his master.

And David said to the men who were with him, Gird you on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword; and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred remained with the baggage.

Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master and against all his household; and Nabal was with the shepherds.