1 Samuel

Tells about Samuel, the last judge, and the beginning of Israel's monarchy with King Saul and young David.

Chapter 23

1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

*Then they said to David, "The Philistines are fighting against Keilah and stealing from the grain-threshing areas."

2 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

*So, David asked God if he should attack the Philistines. God told him to attack the Philistines and rescue Keilah.

3 And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

*David's followers told him, "We are scared just being in Judah. How can we not be scared if we go to Keilah and face the Philistine armies?"

4 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

*Then David asked God once more. God replied, "Go to Keilah now, because I will give the Philistines into your control."

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

*David and his team went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, took their animals, and defeated them badly. This way, David protected the people living in Keilah.

6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

*Then, when Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, ran to David at Keilah, he brought along a special garment called an ephod.

7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

*People told Saul that David had arrived in Keilah. Saul thought that God made it possible for him to capture David because David was trapped inside a city with gates and bars.

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

*Saul gathered everyone for battle, aiming to surround David and his group at Keilah.

9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

*David understood that Saul was secretly planning something bad against him. He told his priest Abiathar, "Bring me the ephod."

10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

*Then David said, "Lord God of Israel, my king, I have heard that Saul wants to come to Keilah to destroy it because of me."

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.

*Will the people of Keilah give me to him? Will Saul attack, like I've heard? Oh Lord, God of Israel, please tell your servant. And the Lord replied, He will come down.

12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

*Then David asked, "Will the people of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?" The Lord replied, "Yes, they will turn you over to Saul."

13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

*Then David and 600 men left Keilah and went wherever they could. When Saul found out David had escaped, he didn't chase him.

14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

*David lived in the wilderness in safe places and stayed on a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God didn't let him capture David.

15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

*David noticed that Saul was looking to kill him, so he hid in the Ziph desert near some trees.

16 And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

*Jonathan, Saul's son, visited David in the forest and encouraged him in his faith in God.

17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

*He told him, "Don't be afraid! My dad, Saul, won't find you. You will be the king of Israel, and I'll be right beside you as your second-in-command. Even Saul knows this."

18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

*David and Jonathan agreed and promised God. David stayed in the woods, while Jonathan returned home.

19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

*Then, the people from Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and asked, "Isn't David hiding with us in hidden places in the forest, on a hill called Hachilah, south of Jeshimon?"

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.

*So now, King, follow your heart's wish and come down. We will then take responsibility for handing him over to you.

21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

*Saul said, "Thank you so much for your kindness from God. You are really helping me."

22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.

*Please go and get ready, and find out where he usually stays and who has seen him there. This is because I have been told that he is very clever in his actions.

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

*So, look carefully for where he might be hiding, then return to me knowing for sure, and I'll join you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the people of Judah.

24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

*They got up and went to Ziph before Saul. However, David and his group were in the Maon desert, in a flat area south of Jeshimon.

25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

*Saul and his group searched for David. They informed David about Saul's location, so he hid in a rock at Maon's desert. When Saul learned this, he chased after David in Maon's desert.

26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

*Saul went one way up the mountain, while David and his group went the other way. David hurried to escape because he was afraid of Saul, who was trying to catch David and his group.

27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

*A messenger told Saul, "Hurry up and come! The Philistines are attacking our land."

28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

*So Saul stopped chasing David and fought the Philistines instead. That's why the place was named Selahammahlekoth.

29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

*David left that place and lived in fortresses at Engedi.

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