Study Desk

The priest said to David, "I don't have any ordinary bread here, but I do have some of the holy bread. Your officers can eat it if they have not had sexual relations with any women."

Achish's officers said, "Isn't this David, the king of the land of Israel? He is the one the Israelites sing about. They dance and sing this song about him: "Saul has killed thousands of enemies, but David has killed tens of thousands."

But the prophet Gad said to David, "Don't stay in the fort. Go to the land of Judah." So David left and went to Hereth Forest.

No, but all of you are plotting against me. None of you told me about my son Jonathan and the agreement he made with the son of Jesse. None of you cares enough about me to tell me that my own son Jonathan encouraged David to turn against me and attack me. And that is what David is doing now."

But the king said, "Ahimelech, you and all your relatives must die."

Then the king told the guards at his side, "Go and kill the priests of the Lord because they are on David's side too. They knew he was running away, but they didn't tell me." The king's officers refused to hurt the priests of the Lord .

But Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped. He ran away and joined David.

But David's men said to him, "Look, our men are afraid here in Judah. Just think how afraid we will be if we go to Keilah, where the Philistine army is lined up and ready for battle."

David went into the desert of Ziph and stayed in the mountains and fortresses there. Saul looked for David the whole time, but the Lord didn't let Saul catch him.

But Saul's son Jonathan went to see David at Horesh and encouraged him to have a stronger faith in God.

Saul and his men went to look for David, but the people warned him. They told David that Saul was looking for him. So David then went down to "The Rock" in the desert of Maon. Saul heard that David had gone there, so Saul went to that place to find him.

Saul was on one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side of the same mountain. David was moving as quickly as possible to get away from Saul. But Saul and his soldiers were going around the mountain to cut them off and trap David and his men.

You can see that with your own eyes that is not true. The Lord put you within my grasp today in the cave, but I refused to kill you. I was merciful to you. I said, ‘I won't hurt my master. Saul is the Lord 's chosen king.'

Look at this piece of cloth in my hand. I cut off the corner of your robe. I could have killed you, but I didn't. Now, I want you to understand this. I want you to know that I am not planning anything against you. I did nothing wrong to you, but you are hunting me and trying to kill me.

Let the Lord be the judge. I hope the Lord will punish you for the wrong you did to me, but I won't fight you myself.

You yourself said it when you told me about the good things you did. The Lord put my life in your hands, but you did not kill me.

This man's name was Nabal. He was from Caleb's family. Nabal's wife was named Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman, but Nabal was a mean and cruel man.

but Nabal said, "Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are many slaves who have run away from their masters these days.

I have bread and water, and I have the meat I killed for my servants who cut the wool from my sheep. But I won't give them to men I don't even know."

One of Nabal's servants spoke to Nabal's wife Abigail. The servant said, "David sent messengers from the desert to meet our master, but Nabal was rude to them.