king said unto his servants that sat by him: Turn ye, and slay the priests of the LORD: for their hand also is with David; and when they knew that he fled, they told me not.
But the king’s servants would not lay their hands on the priests of the LORD to slay them.

And the king said unto Doeg, Turn thou, and slay the priests. Turn thou, and slay the priests.
And Doeg the Edomite turned, and slew the priests: and there died that day fourscore and five men that wore linen vestments.

And the city of the priests, Nobe, he smote with the edge of the sword, both man and woman, children and sucklings, oxen and asses and sheep.

And there escaped a son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, whose name was Abiathar, and he fled after David.

And he told him that Saul had slain the priests of the LORD.

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it the day that Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would tell Saul: I am guilty of all the souls of thy father’s house.

Abide with me, and fear not. He that standeth after my life, the same shall stand after thy life: and thou shalt be kept with me.
(1 Samuel)
Chapter 23
David is betrayed anew, persecuted, and miraculously saved.

And it was told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and spoil the threshingfloors.

And David asked the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD
said unto David, Go, thou shalt smite the Philistines, and deliver Keilah.

And the men that were with David said unto him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah, and will go to Keilah, to the Philistines’ house?

And David asked the LORD again: and the LORD answered him, and said, Go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought against the Philistines, and carried off their cattle, and did great slaughter unto them. So David delivered them that were in Keilah.

For when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he carried the ephod down with him.

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah, and Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand, that he should be shut up, when he was come into a city shut up with gates and bars:

And Saul called all the people to battle at Keilah, to put David and his men to the sword.

And when David knew that Saul had evil thoughts against him, he said unto Abiathar the priest, Bring forth the ephod.

And David said, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.

Will the people of Keilah deliver me into his hand? And shall Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? Declare it, O LORD God of Israel, unto thy servant. And the LORD said, He shall come down.

And David said, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, Yea.

Then David arose, he and his men, about six hundred of them, and departed from Keilah, and walked whithersoever they could. And when it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah, he put his departure in order.

And David abode in the wilderness, in the stronghold, and dwelt in the mount in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him all the days of his life: but God delivered him not into his hand.

And David saw that Saul was gone out to seek his life. But David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in the heath.

And Jonathan the son of Saul arose, and went to David into the heathen, and strengthened his hand in God;

And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I will be next unto thee; and my father knoweth these things.

And they made both of them a covenant together before the LORD. And David abode in the heath, but Jonathan returned home.

And the Ziphites went up to Saul to Gibeah, and said: Is not David hid with us in the castle, in the heath, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the right hand of the wilderness?

Therefore let the king come down according to all the desire of his heart, and let us deliver him into the king’s hand.

And Saul said, Blessed be ye unto the LORD, that ye have had mercy upon me.

Go ye therefore, and be more sure, that ye may know and see in what place his feet have been, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he is crafty.

Behold, search out all the places where he is hid, and come again unto me, if ye be sure, and I will go with you. And if he be in the land, I will search for him among all the thousands of Judah.

And they made ready, and went to Ziph before Saul. And David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the region on the right hand of the wilderness.

And when Saul went with his men to seek, it was told David: and he went down into the rock, and dwelt in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard it, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

And Saul and his men went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And when David hasted to escape from Saul, Saul and his men compassed David and his men, and took them.

And there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Make haste, and come; for the Philistines are fallen into the land.

And Saul turned back from pursuing David, and went to meet the Philistines: therefore the name of the place is called Shelah-mahelkoth.
Ch. 24, v. 1. And David went up from thence, and abode in the castle of Engedi.
(1 Samuel)
Chapter 24
David spares Saul in the cave

And when Saul was come again from the Philistines, he was told, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

And Saul took three thousand young men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rock of the chamois.

And when he was come to the sheepcote by the way, there was a cave there: and Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men sat in the back of the cave.

And David’s men said unto him, Behold, this is the day of which the LORD hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, and thou shalt do unto him as it pleaseth thee. And David arose, and quietly cut a corner of Saul’s skirt.

But afterward his heart smote him, because he had cut off the tail of Saul, 7. And he said unto his men, Let this thing be far from me, that I should do it, and lay my hand upon my lord the LORD’S anointed: for he is the LORD’S anointed.

And David sent away his men with words, and suffered them not to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose out of the cave, and went by the way,

And afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave; and called after Saul in the rear, and said, My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him. And David bowed his face to the ground, and worshipped.

And said unto Saul, Why obeyest thou the word of men, which say, David seeketh thy mischief?

Behold, this day thine eyes see that the LORD hath delivered thee this day into mine hand in the cave, and it was said that I should slay thee. But thou wast spared, because I said: I will not lay my hand upon my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.

My father, behold the corner of thy skirt in mine hand, that I would not slay thee, when I cut off the corner of thy skirt. Know and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor any transgression. Neither have I sinned against thee: And thou huntest my soul to take it away.

The LORD will be judge between me and thee, and will avenge me on thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

As the old saying is, From the wicked cometh iniquity. But my hand shall not be upon thee.

Whom goest thou after, O king of Israel? Whom dost thou pursue? A dead dog, a few fleas?

Let the LORD be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see; and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

And when David had spoken these words unto Saul, Saul said, Is not this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

And he said unto David, Thou art more righteous than I. Thou hast proved me good, but I have proved thee evil.

And thou hast shewed me this day how thou hast done good unto me, how that the LORD
had delivered me into thy hand, and yet thou hast not slain me.

How shall a man find his enemy, and let him go a good way? The LORD repay thee good for this day, which thou hast done unto me!

Now therefore, behold, I know that thou shalt be king, and the kingdom of Israel is in thine hand.

Now therefore swear unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, neither wipe out my name from my father’s house.

And David sware