had
made an inroad into the country of Keilah, and robbed it; so he offered
himself to fight against them, if God, when he should be consulted by
the prophet, would grant him the victory. And when the prophet said
that God gave a signal of victory, he made a sudden onset upon the
Philistines with his companions, and he shed a great deal of their
blood, and carried off their prey, and staid with the inhabitants of
Keilah till they had securely gathered in their corn and their fruits.
However, it was told Saul the king that David was with the men of
Keilah; for what had been done and the great success that had attended
him, were not confined among the people where the things were done, but
the fame of it went all abroad, and came to the hearing of others, and
both the fact as it stood, and the author of the fact, were carried to
the king's ears. Then was Saul glad when he heard David was in Keilah;
and he said, "God hath now put him into my hands, since he hath obliged
him to come into a city that hath walls, and gates, and bars." So he
commanded all the people suddenly, and when they had besieged and taken
it to kill David. But when David perceived this, and learned of God that
if he staid there the men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul,
he took his four hundred men and retired into a desert that was over
against a city called Engedi. So that when the king heard he was fled
away from the men of Keilah, he left off his expedition against him.

2. Then David removed thence, and came to a certain place called the New
Place, belonging to Ziph; where Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to him,
and saluted him, and exhorted him to be of good courage, and to hope
well as to his condition hereafter, and not to despond at his present
circumstances, for that he should be king, and have all the forces of
the Hebrews under him: he told him that such happiness uses to come with
great labor and pains: they also took oaths, that they would, all their
lives long, continue in good-will and fidelity one to another; and he
called God to witness, as to what execrations he had made upon himself
if he should transgress his covenant, and should change to a contrary
behavior. So Jonathan left him there, having rendered his cares and
fears somewhat lighter, and returned home. Now the men of Ziph, to
gratify Saul, informed him that David abode with them, and [assured him]
that if he would come to them, they would deliver him up, for that if
the