16. Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
17. He said to him, “Don’t be afraid; for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.”
18. They both made a covenant before Yahweh. Then David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his house.
19. Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
20. Now therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
21. Saul said, “You are blessed by Yahweh; for you have had compassion on me.
22. Please go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I have been told that he deals very crafty.
23. See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come again to me with certainty, and I will go with you. It shall happen, if he is in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”
24. They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.
25. Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued 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 for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
27. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come; for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”
28. So Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines. Therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
29. David went up from there, and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.