14. David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.
15. One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.
16. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
17. “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”
18. So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.
19. But now the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. “We know where David is hiding,” they said. “He is in the strongholds of Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is in the southern part of Jeshimon.
20. Come down whenever you’re ready, O king, and we will catch him and hand him over to you!”
21. “The lord bless you,” Saul said. “At last someone is concerned about me!