13. So David and his men left Keilah. There were about 600 men who went with David. They kept moving from place to place. Saul learned that David had escaped from Keilah, so he did not go to that city.
14. 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.
15. David was at Horesh in the desert of Ziph. He was afraid because Saul was coming to kill him.
16. But Saul’s son Jonathan went to see David at Horesh and encouraged him to have a stronger faith in God.
17. Jonathan told David, “Don’t be afraid. My father Saul won’t hurt you. You will become the king of Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father knows this.”
18. Jonathan and David both made an agreement before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, and David stayed at Horesh.
19. Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and told him, “David is hiding in our area. He is at the fortresses of Horesh on Hakilah Hill, south of Jeshimon.
20. Now, King, come down any time you want. It is our duty to give David to you.”
21. Saul answered, “May the Lord bless you for helping me.
22. Go and learn more about David. Keep track of where he goes and who goes to see him. I am told that David is smart and that he is trying to trick me.
23. Find all the hiding places that David uses. Then come back to me and tell me everything. Then I’ll go with you. If David is in the area, I will find him, even if I must go to every family group in Judah.”
24. So those people went back to Ziph before Saul. David and his men were in the desert of Maon, south of Jeshimon.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. Then a messenger arrived and told Saul, “Come quickly! The Philistines are attacking.”