Study Desk

Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You're not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!"

Ahimelech consulted the Lord for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

King Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech and all his family, who served as priests at Nob.

"Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?" Saul demanded. "Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted God for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?"

This was certainly not the first time I had consulted God for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you."

And he ordered his bodyguards, "Kill these priests of the Lord , for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn't tell me!" But Saul's men refused to kill the Lord 's priests.

Stay here with me, and don't be afraid. I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both."

So David asked the Lord again, and again the Lord replied, "Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines."

Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. "Good!" he exclaimed. "We've got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!"

One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.

Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him there, for I know that he is very crafty.

When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock, and he remained there in the wilderness of Maon. But Saul kept after him in the wilderness.

So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn't attack the Lord 's anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him."

This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn't true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord 's anointed one.'

Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

"May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.

And he said to David, "You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.

Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn't do it.

Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.