{"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/kjv/1-samuel/23","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-30T20:26:36.841Z"},"reference":{"translation":"KJV","book":"1 Samuel","bookSlug":"1-samuel","chapter":23,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":22,"nextChapter":24,"totalChapters":31,"totalVerses":29},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?"},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, <i>that</i> he came down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver <i>thee</i> up."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"Then David and his men, <i>which were</i> about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David <i>was</i> in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which <i>is</i> on the south of Jeshimon?"},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part <i>shall be</i> to deliver him into the king's hand."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"And Saul said, Blessed <i>be</i> ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, <i>and</i> who hath seen him there: for it is told me <i>that</i> he dealeth very subtilly."},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah."},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men <i>were</i> in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon."},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"Saul also and his men went to seek <i>him</i>. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard <i>that</i>, 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 on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them."},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land."},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth."},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi."}],"citation":{"inline":"1 Samuel 23 (KJV)","markdown":"[1 Samuel 23](https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/23)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* KJV. https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/23 (accessed 2026-05-30)."}}