So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth.

(24:2) When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, “Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi.”

So Saul took three thousand select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain goats.

Afterward David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul’s robe.

David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road.

He said to David, “You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you!

Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the desert of Paran.

But one of the servants told Nabal’s wife Abigail, “David sent messengers from the desert to greet our lord, but he screamed at them.

Riding on her donkey, she went down under cover of the mountain. David and his men were coming down to meet her, and she encountered them.

God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who belong to him!”

Then David took from her hand what she had brought to him. He said to her, “Go back to your home in peace. Be assured that I have listened to you and responded favorably.”

Then Abigail quickly went and mounted her donkey, with five of her female servants accompanying her. She followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t David hiding on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon?”

So Saul arose and went down to the desert of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand select men of Israel, to look for David in the desert of Ziph.

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t kill him! Who can extend his hand against the Lord’s chosen one and remain guiltless?”

David went on to say, “As the Lord lives, the Lord himself will strike him down. Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away.

So David left and crossed over to King Achish son of Maoch of Gath accompanied by his six hundred men.

When David would attack a district, he would leave neither man nor woman alive. He would take sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and would then go back to Achish.

When Achish would ask, “Where did you raid today?” David would say, “The Negev of Judah” or “The Negev of Jeharmeel” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”

The Lord has done exactly as I prophesied! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David!