1   And they told Dauid, saying: Behold the Philistijms oppugne Ceila, and spoyle the barnes.

2   Dauid therefore consulted our Lord, saying: Shal I goe, and strike these Philistians? And our Lord sayd to Dauid: Goe, and thou shalt strike the Philistians, and shalt saue Ceila.

3   And the men that were with Dauid, sayd to him: Behold we resting here in Iurie are afrayd, how much more if we shal goe into Ceila against the bandes of the Philistians?

4   Againe therefore Dauid consulted our Lord. Who answering sayd to him: Arise, and goe into Ceila: for I wil deliuer the Philistians in thy hand.

5   Dauid therefore, and his men, went into Ceila, and fought against the Philistians, and droue away their beastes, and stroke them with a great slaughter, and Dauid saued the inhabitantes of Ceila.

6   Moreouer at that time, when Abiathar the sonne of Achimelech fled to Dauid into Ceila, he went downe hauing with him an ephod.

7   And it was told Saul that Dauid was come into Ceila: and Saul sayd. Our Lord hath deliuered him into my handes, and he is shut vp being entered the citie, wherein are gates and lockes.

8   And Saul commanded al the people, that they should goe downe into Ceila to fight, and beseige Dauid, and his men.

9   Which when

Dauid. Dauid vnderstood, that Saul secretly prepared euil against him, he sayd to Abiathar the priest: ^note Applie the Ephod.

10   And Dauid sayd: Lord God of Israel, thy seruant hath heard a bruite, that Saul determineth to come into Ceila, to destroy the citie for me:

11   Wil the men of Ceila deliuer me into his handes? and wil Saul come downe, as thy seruant hath heard? Lord God of Israel tel thy seruant. And our Lord sayd: He wil come downe.

12   And Dauid said: Wil the men of Ceila deliuer me, and the men that are with me, into the handes of Saul? And our Lord sayd: ^note They wil deliuer thee.

13   Dauid therefore arose and his men about six hundred, and going out of Ceila, wandered hither and thither vncertaine: and it was told Saul that Dauid was fled from Ceila and was saued: for which cause he dissembled to goe forth.

14   But Dauid abode in the desert in most strong places, and he taried in the mount of the desert Ziph, in a shadowed hil. Saul notwithstanding sought him alwayes: and our Lord deliuered him not into his handes.

15   And Dauid saw that Saul was gone forth to seeke his life. Moreouer Dauid was in the desert Ziph, in a wood.

16   And Ionathas the sonne of Saul arose, and went to Dauid into the wood, and strengthened his handes in God: and sayd to him:

17   Feare not: for neither shal the hand of Saul my father finde thee, and thou shalt reigne ouer Israel, and I shal be second to thee, yea and my father knoweth this.

18   Both therefore made a league before our Lord: and Dauid abode in the wood: but Ionathas returned into his house.

19   And the Zeipheites went vp vnto Saul in Gabaa, saying: Loe doth not Dauid lye hid with vs in the most safe places of the wood, in the Hil Hachila, which is on the right hand of the desert?

20   Now therefore, as thy soule hath desired, come downe: & it shal be our charge to deliuer him into the kinges handes.

21   And Saul sayd: Blessed be ye of our Lord, because you haue pitied my case.

22   Goe therefore I pray you, and prepare diligently, and deale curiously, and consider the place, where his foote is, and who hath seene him there, for he thinketh of me, that I craftely lye in waite for him.

23   Consider and see al his lurking holes, wherein he is hid, and returne to me with the certeintie of the thing, that I may goe with you. Yea and if he shal stoppe vp himselfe into the earth, I wil search him out among al the thousandes of Iuda.

24   But they rising went into Ziph before Saul: and Dauid and his men

Dauid. were in the desert Maon, in the champaine country at the right hand of Iesimon.

25   Saul therefore and his companie went to seeke him: and it was told Dauid, and forthwith he went downe to the rocke, and abode in the desert Maon, which when Saul had heard, he pursued Dauid in the desert Maon.

26   And Saul went at the side of the mountaine on the one part: and Dauid and his men were in the side of the mountaine on the other part: moreouer Dauid despayred that he could escape, from the face of Saul: Saul therefore and his men in maner of a ring, compassed Dauid and his men, to take them.

27   And a messenger came to Saul, saying: Make hast, and come, because the Philistijms haue powred in themselues vpon the land.

28   Saul therefore returned leauing of to pursew Dauid, and he went to meete the Philistians. for this cause, they called that place, the Rocke diuiding.

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