1 Samuel 23:13-29 - David Hides In The Wilderness
13 David and his men, about six hundred in all, left Keilah. They went wherever they could go. Then Saul was told: David has escaped from Keilah! So he gave up the campaign. 14 David lived in fortified camps in the desert. He lived in fortified camps in the mountains of the desert of Ziph. Saul was always searching for him. But God did not let him capture David.
15 David was afraid because Saul had come to kill him at Horesh in the desert of Ziph. 16 Jonathan went to see David. God helped him encourage David. 17 Do not be afraid, Jonathan said. My father Saul will never get his hands on you. In fact, you are going to be the next king of Israel. I will be your highest official. Even my father knows it is true. 18 They both promised Jehovah that they would always be loyal to each other. Then Jonathan went home while David stayed at Horesh.
19 Some people from the town of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said: Your Majesty, David has a hideout not far from us! It is near Horesh. It is somewhere on Mount Hachilah south of Jeshimon. 20 We know how much you want to capture him. Come to our territory and we will make sure you catch him.
21 Saul answered: May Jehovah bless you for being so kind to me! 22 Go and make sure once more. Find out for certain where he is and who has seen him there. I hear that he is very cunning. 23 Find out exactly the places where he hides. Be sure to bring back a report to me right away. Then I will go with you. If he is still in the region, I will hunt him down, even if I have to search the whole land of Judah. 24 So they left and returned to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon. They were in a desolate valley in the southern part of the Judean wilderness. 25 Saul and his men set out to look for David. David heard about it and went to a rocky hill in the wilderness of Maon and stayed there. When Saul heard about this he went after David.
26 Saul and his men were on one side of the hill. They were separated from David and his men, who were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul and his men, who were closing in on them and were about to capture them. 27 Just then a messenger arrived and said to Saul: Come back at once! The Philistines are invading the country! 28 Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill. 29 From there David went to stay in the fortified camps of En Gedi.