Study Desk

All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day."

And he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

Then Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?"

Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much."

Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe."

Then David inquired of the LORD once again. And the LORD answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand."

And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, "God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars."

Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

Then David said, "O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.

And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that."

And Saul said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have compassion on me.

Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty.

See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides; and come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the clans [fn] of Judah."

Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.

But a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!"

Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, "I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'

Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

Then he said to David: "You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.

And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.

For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.