1 Samuel 23:15-23

23:15 David realized ¹  that Saul had come out to seek his life; at that time David was in Horesh in the desert of Ziph.

23:16 Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him ²  through God. 23:17 He said to him, “Don’t be afraid! For the hand of my father Saul cannot find you. You will rule over Israel, and I will be your second in command. Even my father Saul realizes this.” 23:18 When the two of them had made a covenant before the Lord, David stayed on at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.

23:19 Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? 23:20 Now at your own discretion, ³  O king, come down. Delivering him into the king’s hand will be our responsibility.”

23:21 Saul replied, “May you be blessed by the Lord, for you have had compassion on me. 23:22 Go and make further arrangements. Determine precisely ⁴  where he is ⁵  and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. 23:23 Locate precisely all the places where he hides and return to me with dependable information. ⁶  Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him ⁷  among all the thousands of Judah.”

[23:15]  ¹ tn Heb “saw.”

[23:16]  ² tn Heb “strengthened his hand.”

[23:20]  ³ tn Heb “to all the desire of your soul.”

[23:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “know and see.” The expression is a hendiadys. See also v. 23.

[23:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “his place where his foot is.”

[23:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “established.”

[23:23]  ⁷ tn Heb “I will search him out.”