18. The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.
19. Then the Ziphites went up to Saul to Gibeah saying, “Is David not hiding himself with us in strongholds in Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, which is south of Jeshimon?
20. Now, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down. And our part will be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”
21. Saul said, “Blessed are you of the Lord. For you have had compassion on me.
22. Please go, make sure again. Investigate and see the place where his foot rests, and who has seen him there. For it has been said to me that he is very cunning.
23. So look and learn about all the hiding places where he hides himself. And come to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it will be that if he is in the land, then I will track him throughout all the clans of Judah.”
24. So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the desert south of Jeshimon.
25. Saul and his men went to seek him, but they told David. Therefore he came down to the Rock, and lived in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon.
26. Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David hurried to get away from Saul. Now Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
27. But a messenger came to Saul saying, “Hurry and go! For the Philistines have invaded the land.”