1 Samuel 23:14-29 - David Eludes Saul's Pursuit
14 And David stayed in the wilderness in strongholds, and remained in the stronghold in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul looked for him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.
15 And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a woods. 16 And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. And you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. And my father Saul knows that also. 18 And the two of them cut a covenant before Jehovah. And David stayed in the forest, and Jonathan went to his house.
19 And the men of Ziph came up to Saul, to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the forest, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the wilderness? 20 And now, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul. Come down, and it is for us to shut him up into the king's hand.
21 And Saul said, Blessed are you from Jehovah, for you have pity on me. 22 Please go, make more sure, and know and see the place where his foot is. Who has seen him there? For I am told that he is very subtle. 23 And see and know of all the hiding places where he hides himself there, and return to me prepared. And I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. 24 And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain, on the south of the desert. 25 Saul and his men also went to look for him. And they told David. And he came down from the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard, he followed after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David hurried to get away before Saul. For Saul and his men were encircling David and his men, to take them. 27 And a messenger came to Saul, saying, Hurry and come! For the Philistines have invaded the land. 28 And Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place, The Rock of the Division. 29 And David went up from there and stayed in strongholds at En-gedi.