Saul Pursues David

1 Samuel 23

15 So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph 1 in a forest. 16 Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and 2 strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, k "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. l Even my father Saul knows that." 18 So the two of them m made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.

19 Then the Ziphites n came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20 "Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and o our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand." 21 And Saul said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have compassion on me. 22 "Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty. 23 "See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides; and come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the 3 clans of Judah."

24 So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness p of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 25 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down 4 to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. 26 Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. q So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men r were encircling David and his men to take them. 27 s But a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!" 28 Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place 5 the Rock of Escape. 29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at t En Gedi.

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 32:7
    You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
    Psalms 54:3
    For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah
    Psalms 54:4
    Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
  2. Cross References
    Psalms 27:1 - 3
    The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
    Hebrews 13:6
    So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:31
    "For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die."
    1 Samuel 24:20
    And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 18:3
    Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
    1 Samuel 20:12 - 17
    Then Jonathan said to David: "The LORD God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you.
    1 Samuel 20:42
    Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, 'May the LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.' " So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
    2 Samuel 9:1
    Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
    2 Samuel 21:7
    But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 26:1
    Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?
    Psalms 54:1
    Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 54:3
    For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah
  7. Cross References
    Joshua 15:55
    Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah.
    1 Samuel 25:2
    Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 31:22
    For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 17:9
    From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.
  10. Cross References
    2 Kings 19:9
    And the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, "Look, he has come out to make war with you." So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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