1 Samuel 23
Saul chases David in the desert of Ziph
14 And David remained in the wilderness, in the strong places, and remained on a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph; and Saul sought him out every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
15 When David saw that Saul had gone out to seek his life, David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a forest.
16 Then Jonathan, Saul's son, got up and went to David in the woods, and comforted his hand in God;
17 And he said to him, Fear not, that the hand of my father Saul will not find you; but you shall reign over Israel, and I will be with you the second: what my father Saul also knows.
18 And they both made a covenant before the Lord: David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan returned to his house.
19 Then the zephites went up to Saul, to Gibeah, saying, Did not David hide among us in the strong places of the forest, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on Jesimon's right hand?
20 Now therefore, O king, hurry down according to every desire of your soul; it remains for us to hand him over to the king.
21 Then Saul said, Blessed be you of the Lord, because you have compassion on me.
22 Go, therefore, and do more diligence, and know and notice the place you frequent, and whoever has seen you there; because I was told that it is very cunning.
23 So be careful, and be informed of all the hiding places in which he hides; and then surely return to me, and I will go with you; and it must be that if I am in that land, I will seek him among all the thousands of Judah.
24 Then they arose, and went to Ziphus, before Saul: David, however, and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the campaign, to the right of Jesimon.
25 And Saul and his men went in search of him; what they announced to David, who went down to that rock, and stayed in the desert of Maon: whoever heard Saul, followed David into the desert of Maon.
26 And Saul went from this side of the mountain, and David and his men from the other side of the mountain: and it came to pass that David hurried to escape from Saul; Saul, however, and his men surrounded David and his men to make use of them.
27 Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, Hurry, and come, because the Philistines rushed into the land.
28 So Saul returned from persecuting David, and went to meet the Philistines: for that reason that place was called Sela-Amalecote.
29 And David went up from there, and stayed in the strong places of Engedi.