David Eludes Saul’s Pursuit

14 David remained in the wilderness, in the strongholds, and in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him continually,[fn] but God did not give him into his hand. 15 When David realized that Saul had gone out to seek his life, David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 So Jonathan the son of Saul got up and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him[fn] through God. 17 He said to him, “Do not be afraid, for the hand of my father Saul will not find you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you.[fn] My father Saul knowsthis also.” 18 Then the two of them made[fn] a covenant before Yahweh. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is south of Jeshimon? 20 So then, O king, whenever you want[fn] to come down, come down, andit will be for us to deliver him into the hand of the king.” 21 And Saul said to them, “May you be blessed by Yahweh, for you have shown me compassion! 22 Go, please, make certain again! Find out and see exactly where he is[fn] and who has seen him there! For they have said to me, ‘Heis very cunning.’ 23 Look, find out all of the hiding places where he hides. Then return to me with dependable information,[fn] and I will go with you. And then if heis there in the land, then I will seek him among all the thousands of Judah.”

24 Then they got up and went to Ziph before Saul.Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah, to the south of Jeshimon. 25 And Saul and his men went to seek him, and they told David, so he went down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard this, he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain,[fn] and David and his menwent on the other side of the mountain.[fn] David was hurrying to get away from Saul, while Saul and his menwere closing in on David and his men to capture them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing David, and he went to confront[fn]the Philistines. Therefore, they called that place the Rock of Division.[fn][fn] David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En Gedi.