1 Disseram a Davi: Os filisteus estão atacando Ceila e pilhando as eiras.2 Davi consultou o Senhor: Devo ferir os filisteus? O Senhor respondeu: Vai; tu os ferirás e libertarás Ceila.3 Os homens de Davi, porém, disseram-lhe: Mesmo aqui em Judá estamos cheios de medo; quanto mais se formos a Ceila contra as tropas dos filisteus?4 Davi consultou novamente o Senhor, que lhe respondeu: Vai; desce a Ceila, porque entrego os filisteus nas tuas mãos.5 Davi foi para Ceila com os seus homens e atacou os filisteus, tomando-lhes o gado e infligindo-lhes uma grande derrota. Assim libertou os habitantes de Ceila.6 {Ora, quando Abiatar, filho de Aquimelec, fugira para junto de Davi a Ceila, levava consigo o efod.}7 Saul foi informado de que Davi se encontrava em Ceila, e disse: Deus entregou-o nas minhas mãos, pois foi encerrar-se em uma cidade com portas e ferrolhos.8 O rei convocou todo o povo às armas para descer a Ceila e sitiar Davi com sua tropa.9 Mas Davi, sabendo que Saul maquinava perdê-lo, disse ao sacerdote Abiatar: Traze o efod!10 E ajuntou: Senhor, Deus de Israel, vosso servo sabe que Saul pretende penetrar em Ceila para destruir a cidade por causa de mim.11 Será que os habitantes de Ceila me entregarão nas suas mãos? Saul descerá como o vosso servo ouviu dizer? Senhor, Deus de Israel, fazei-o saber ao vosso servo. O Senhor respondeu: Ele descerá.12 E Davi ajuntou: Os habitantes de Ceila entregar-me-ão a mim e a meus homens, nas mãos de Saul? O Senhor respondeu: Entregarão.13 Então Davi partiu precipitadamente com a sua tropa, em número de aproximadamente seiscentos homens, e saíram de Ceila, marchando ao acaso. Saul, informado de que Davi deixara Ceila, renunciou à expedição.14 Davi permaneceu no deserto, em lugares bem protegidos, e habitou no monte do deserto de Zif. Saul procurava-o sem cessar; mas Deus não o entregou nas suas mãos.15 Davi, sabendo que Saul tinha saído para tirar-lhe a vida, ficou no deserto de Zif, em Horcha.16 Então Jônatas, filho de Saul, foi ter com ele em Horcha. E confortou-o em Deus, dizendo:17 Não temas, porque não te atingirá a mão de meu pai. Tu reinarás sobre Israel, e eu serei o teu segundo; meu pai bem o sabe.18 Fizeram ambos aliança diante do Senhor. Davi ficou em Horcha e Jônatas voltou para a sua casa.19 Alguns zifeus subiram a ter com Saul em Gabaa, e disseram-lhe: Davi está escondido entre nós no fortim de Horcha, na colina de Haquila, à direita do deserto.20 Desce, pois, ó rei, já que tanto o desejas, e nós nos encarregamos de entregá-lo nas tuas mãos.21 Que o Senhor vos abençoe, respondeu Saul, porque vos compadecestes de mim.22 Ide, informai-vos diligentemente, e procurai saber o lugar onde ele se encontra, ou se alguém o viu, porque me foi dito que ele é muito astuto!23 Explorai e descobri todos os seus esconderijos, e voltai a mim com notícias seguras, a fim de eu ir convosco, pois se ele estiver na terra, eu o descobrirei entre a multidão de Judá.24 Partiram antes de Saul para Zif; mas Davi e os seus estavam já no deserto de Maon, na planície ao sul do deserto.25 Saul partiu com seus homens à sua procura. Mas Davi, informado disso, desceu à Rocha e permaneceu no deserto de Maon. Saul o soube e foi persegui-lo ali.26 Saul ia por um flanco da montanha, e Davi com os seus pelo outro, em fuga precipitada para escapar de Saul. No momento, porém, em que Saul com seus homens iam apoderar-se de Davi e sua gente,27 veio um mensageiro anunciar ao rei: Vem depressa; os filisteus entraram na terra.28 Saul abandonou a perseguição e foi combater os filisteus. Por isso, àquele lugar foi dado o nome de Rocha da Separação.29 Subindo dali, veio Davi habitar nas alturas de Engadi.

1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Ke’ilah, and they are plundering the threshing–floors.2 Thereupon David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite among these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go and smite among the Philistines, and deliver Ke’ilah.3 And David’s men said unto him, Behold, here in Judah are we afraid: how much more then if we should go to Ke’ilah against the battle–arrays of the Philistines?4 Then David asked yet again counsel of the Lord. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, Go down to Ke’ilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.5 So David and his men went to Ke’ilah; and he fought with the Philistines, and lead away their cattle, and smote among them a great slaughter. So David delivered the inhabitants of Ke’ilah.6 And it came to pass, when Ebyathar the son of Achimelech, fled over to David, to Ke’ilah, that the ephod came down with him.7 And it was told to Saul that David was come to Ke’ilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Ke’ilah, to besiege David and his men.9 And David understood that Saul secretly devised mischief against him; and he said to Ebyathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.10 Then said David, O Lord, God of Israel, thy servant hath heard for certain that Saul seeketh to come to Ke’ilah, to destroy the city for my sake.11 Will the men of Ke’ilah surrender me into his hand? will Saul come down as thy servant hath heard? O Lord, God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.12 Then said David, Will the men of Ke’ilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul! And the Lord said, They will surrender.13 Then arose David and his men, about six hundred men, and departed out of Ke’ilah, and wandered about whithersoever they could go. And when it was told to Saul that David was escaped from Ke’ilah, he forbore to go forth.14 And David remained in the wilderness in strong–holds, and abode on the mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him all the time, but God delivered him not into his hand.15 And David saw that Saul was gone forth to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the forest.16 And Jonathan, the son of Saul, arose and went to David into the forest, and strengthened his hand in God.17 And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father will not find thee; and thou wilt be king over Israel, and I will be next unto thee; and also Saul my father knoweth this.18 And they made, both of them, a covenant before the Lord: and David remained in the forest; but Jonathan went to his house.19 Then came up the Ziphites unto Saul to Gib’ah, saying, Behold, David is hiding himself with us in the strong–holds in the forest, on the hill of Chachilah, which is on the right of the desert.20 And now in accordance with all the longing of thy soul, O king, to come down, come down; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the Lord; for ye have pity on me.22 Go, I pray you, make yet more preparations, and remark and see his place where his foot may be, who hath seen him there; for I am told that he dealeth with great subtilty.23 See therefore, and remark every one of all the lurking–places where he usually hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you; and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Ma’on, in the plain on the right of the desert.25 And Saul and his men went to make a search. And they told it to David: wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Ma’on. And when Saul heard this, he pursued after David into the wilderness of Ma’on.26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away from before Saul; and Saul and his men were compassing David and his men to seize them.27 But a messenger came unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela–hammachlekoth.29 And David went up from there, and dwelt in strong–holds of ‘En–gedi.