{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/drb/1-samuel/23","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-31T23:15:20.881Z"},"reference":{"translation":"DRB","book":"1 Samuel","bookSlug":"1-samuel","chapter":23,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":22,"nextChapter":24,"totalChapters":31,"totalVerses":29},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"And they told David, saying: Behold the Philistines fight against Ceila, and they rob the barns. "},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Therefore David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said to David: Go, and thou shalt smite the Philistines, and shalt save Ceila. "},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"And the men that were with David, said to him: Behold we are in fear here in Judea, how much more if we go to Ceila against the hands of the Philistines? "},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Therefore David consulted the Lord again. And he answered and said to him: Arise, and go to Ceila: for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand. "},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"David therefore, and his men, went to Ceila, and fought against the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter of them: and David saved the inhabitants of Ceila. "},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"Now at that time, when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David to Ceila, he came down having an ephod with him. "},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"And it was told Saul that David was come to Ceila: and Saul said: The Lord hath delivered him into my hands, and he is shut up, being come into a city, that hath gates and bars. "},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"And Saul commanded all the people to go down to fight against Ceila, and to besiege David, and his men. "},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"Now when David understood, that Saul secretly prepared evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest: Bring hither the ephod. "},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"And David said: O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath heard a report, that Saul designeth to come to Ceila, to destroy the city for my sake: "},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Will the men of Ceila deliver me into his hands? and will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, tell thy servant. And the Lord said: He will come down. "},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And David said: Will the men of Ceila deliver me, and my men, into the hands of Saul? And the Lord said: They will deliver thee up. "},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose, and departing from Ceila, wandered up and down uncertain where they should stay: and it was told Saul that David was fled from Ceila, and had escaped: wherefore he forbore to go out. "},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"But David abode in the desert in strong holds, and he remained in a mountain of the desert of Ziph, in a woody hill. And Saul sought him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands. "},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life. And David was in the desert of Ziph, in a wood. "},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"And Jonathan the son of Saul arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hands in God: and he said to him: "},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"Fear not: for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee, yea, and my father knoweth this. "},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"And the two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood: but Jonathan returned to his house. "},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"And the Ziphites went up to Saul in Gabaa, saying: Lo, doth not David lie hid with us in the strong holds of the wood, in mount Hachila, which is on the right hand of the desert. "},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Now therefore come down, as thy soul hath desired to come down: and it shall be our business to deliver him into the king's hands. "},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"And Saul said: Blessed be ye of the Lord, for you have pitied my case. "},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"Go therefore, I pray you, and use all diligence, and curiously inquire, and consider the place where his foot is, and who hath seen him there: for he thinketh of me, that I lie craftily in wait for him. "},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"Consider and see all his lurking holes, wherein he is bid, and return to me with the certainty of the thing, that I may go with you. And if be should even go down into the earth to hide himself, I will search him out in all the thousands of Juda. "},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul: and David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plain at the right hand of Jesimon. "},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"Then Saul and his men went to seek him: and it was told David, and forthwith he went down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon: and when Saul had heard of it he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. "},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"And Saul went on this side of the mountain: and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain: and David despaired of being able to escape from the face of Saul: and Saul and his men encompassed David and his men round about to take them. "},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"And a messenger came to Saul, saying: Make haste to come, for the Philistines have poured in themselves upon the land. "},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"Wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines. For this cause they called that place, the Rock of division. "},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"Then David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds of Engaddi. "}],"citation":{"inline":"1 Samuel 23 (DRB)","markdown":"[1 Samuel 23](https://primebible.com/drb/1-samuel/23)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* DRB. https://primebible.com/drb/1-samuel/23 (accessed 2026-05-31)."}}