So Saul took three thousand specially-picked men from all Israel and went searching for David and his men in the area around Wild Goats' Rocks.
He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior.
“Do you know when the wild goats give birth? Have you watched the birth-pains of the deer?
Wild goats live high in the mountains; hyraxes hide among the rocks.
They shall be thrown down by the power of the rock that judges them, and then they will recognize what I said was true!
The wicked lie in wait for those who do good, intending to kill them.
Those who are trying to kill me set traps for me; those who want to hurt me make threats against me, working on their deceitful schemes all day long.
Saul had chosen three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand of them were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and another thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the army home.
So Saul had to stop chasing David and went to confront the Philistines. That's why the place is called the “Rock of Escape.”
So Saul went to the Desert of Ziph along with three thousand specially-picked men from Israel to search for David there.