1 Samuel 23:19-29

New International Reader's Version

¹⁹ The people of Ziph went up to Saul at Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding among us. He’s hiding in places of safety at Horesh. Horesh is south of Jeshimon on the hill of Hakilah. ²⁰ Your Majesty, come down when it pleases you to come. It will be our duty to hand David over to you.”

²¹ Saul replied, “May the Lord bless you because you were concerned about me. ²² Make sure you are right. Go and check things out again. Find out where David usually goes. Find out who has seen him there. People tell me he’s very tricky. ²³ Find out about all the hiding places he uses. Come back to me with all the facts. I’ll go with you. Suppose he’s in the area. Then I’ll track him down among all the family groups of Judah.”

²⁴ So they started out. They went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the Desert of Maon. Maon is south of Jeshimon in the Arabah Valley. ²⁵ Saul and his men started out to look for David. David was told about it. So he went down to a rock in the Desert of Maon to hide. Saul heard he was there. So he went into the Desert of Maon to chase David.

²⁶ Saul was going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul. Saul and his army were closing in on David and his men. They were about to capture them. ²⁷ Just then a messenger came to Saul. He said, “Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking the land.” ²⁸ So Saul stopped chasing David. He went to fight against the Philistines. That’s why they call that place Sela Hammahlekoth. ²⁹ David left that place. He went and lived in places of safety near En Gedi.