Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

David was told that the Philistines were attacking Keilah, robbing its threshing floors. He asked God if he should go and strike the Philistines. God replied, "Go, attack the Philistines, and rescue Keilah."

But David's men were afraid to fight in Judah, let alone against the powerful armies of the Philistines. God reassured David, saying, "Rise up and go down to Keilah; I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines, took their cattle, and killed many of them. David saved the people of Keilah.

As Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, fled to David in Keilah, he brought an ephod with him. Saul heard that David had come to Keilah and thought God had handed him over because he was trapped in a town surrounded by gates and bars. Saul gathered his people to besiege David and his men.

David learned of Saul's plan and knew he would be in danger, so he asked Abiathar for the ephod. He prayed, "O Lord God of Israel, my servant has heard that Saul is trying to come to Keilah to destroy it because of me." David wanted to know if the people of Keilah would betray him to Saul and if Saul would really come as he had heard. The Lord replied that the men of Keilah would indeed hand him over.

David decided not to stay in Keilah, so he gathered his men, about six hundred strong, and left with them. It was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he gave up pursuing him. Instead, David hid out in the wilderness, taking refuge in rocky outposts and hiding among the hills of Ziph. But Saul relentlessly pursued him every day, trying to catch him.

David noticed that Saul was searching for him, so he stayed hidden in a forest in the woods of Ziph. That's when Jonathan, Saul's son, came to visit David, offering him encouragement from God. "Don't be afraid," Jonathan said. "My father won't find you. And one day, you'll be king over Israel, and I'll stand by your side as your friend."

The two of them made a secret promise before the Lord: David would stay hidden in the woods, while Jonathan returned home.

However, Saul was informed that David might be hiding with some people in the woods near Jeshimon. So he asked, "Will you take me to him? I want to capture him." The Ziphites agreed to help Saul find David and promised to bring him back.

But David was not at their supposed hiding place; he and his men were actually hiding in a different location. When Saul heard that David had escaped, he pursued him into the wilderness of Maon. David quickly moved to safety, but Saul's men surrounded him on one side of a mountain while David's men were on the other.

Saul received news that the Philistines were attacking the land and immediately stopped his pursuit of David. He turned to face the Philistines instead. The place where this happened became known as Selahammahlekoth.

David then left the area and took up residence in the strongholds at Engedi, a fortress town south of Judah.