|
[1]And they told David, saying: 'Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they threshing-floors.'
[2]Therefore David inquired of 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇, saying: 'Shall I go and smite these Philistines?' And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said unto David: 'Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.'
[3]And David's men said unto him: 'Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?'
[4]Then David inquired of 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 yet again. And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 answered him and said: 'Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.'
[5]And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and slew them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of 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.
[7]And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said: 'God hat delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.'
[8]And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
[9]And David knew that Saul devised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest: 'Bring hither the ephod.'
[10]Then said David: 'O 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇, the God of Israel, Thy servant hath surely heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
[11]Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as Thy servant hath heard?' O 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇, the God of Israel, I beseech Thee, tell Thy servant.' And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'He will come down.'
[12]Then said David: 'Will the men of Keilah deliver up me and my men into the hand of Saul?' And 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇 said: 'They will deliver thee up.'
[13]Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out o Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbore to go forth.
[14]And David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
[15]And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life; and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.
[16]And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand 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.'
[18]And they two made a covenant before 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇; and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
[19]Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying: 'Doth not David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, 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 thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king's hand.'
[21]And Saul said: 'Blessed be ye of 𐤉𐤇𐤅𐤇; for ye have had compassion on me.
[22]Go, I pray you, make yet more sure, 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 subtly.
[23]See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, and come ye back 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 among all the thousands 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 Arabah on the south of Jeshimon.
[25]And Saul and his men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
[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.
[27]But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying: 'Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land.'
[28]So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
|