5. Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.
6. Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
7. When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.”
8. Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9. When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10. Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.
11. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”The Lord answered, “He will come down.”
12. Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul? ”“They will,” the Lord responded.
13. So David and his men, numbering about 600, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition.
14. David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.
15. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.
16. Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God,
17. saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”
18. Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
19. Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon.
20. Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king.”
21. “May you be blessed by the Lord,” replied Saul, “for you have taken pity on me.