“Don’t be sad, my people.\par Rumors will spread, but don’t be afraid.\par One rumor comes this year.\par Another rumor will come next year.\par There will be rumors about terrible fighting\par in the country.\par There will be rumors about rulers fighting\par against other rulers.\par
But David thought to himself, “Saul will catch me some day. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up looking for me in Israel. That way I will escape from Saul.”
I know where you live. You live where Satan (the devil) has his throne. But you are true to me. You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even during the time of Antipas. Antipas was my faithful witness {\cf2\super [16]} who was killed in your city. Your city is where Satan lives.
“Those {Levite} officers must also say to the people, ‘Is there any man here that has lost his courage and is afraid? He should go back home. Then he will not cause the other soldiers to lose their courage too.’