1 Samuel 23:28

So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth. ¹ 

biblegateway 1Sa 23:28

Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.

biblegateway 1Sa 23:28

So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.

biblegateway 1Sa 23:28

So Saul quit the chase and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape.

biblegateway 1Sa 23:28

So Saul called off his pursuit of David and went back to deal with the Philistines. That's how that place got the name Narrow Escape.

SABDAweb 1Sa 23:28

So turning back from going after David, Saul went against the Philistines: so that place was named Sela-hammah-lekoth.

bibleoremus 1Sa 23:28

So Saul stopped pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

biblegateway 1Sa 23:28

Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.

biblegateway 1Sa 23:28

So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth. ¹ 

¹ sn The name הַמַּחְלְקוֹת סֶלַע (Sela Hammakhleqoth) probably means “Rock of Divisions” in Hebrew, in the sense that Saul and David parted company there (cf. NAB “Gorge of Divisions”; TEV “Separation Hill”). This etymology assumes that the word derives from the Hebrew root II חלק (khlq, “to divide”; HALOT 322 s.v. II חלק). However, there is another root I חלק, which means “to be smooth or slippery” (HALOT 322 s.v. I חלק). If the word is taken from this root, the expression would mean “Slippery Rock.”