David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.
along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured #– #and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.
Then the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to seize the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah, but the Lord hid them.
David said to himself, ‘One of these days I’ll be swept away by Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me everywhere in Israel, and I’ll escape from him.’
When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, ‘God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.’
Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognise that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.