When the menof Israelsawthat they were in a strait(for the peoplewere hard-pressed),then the peoplehidthemselves in caves,in thickets,in cliffs,in cellars,and in pits.
Then Davidsaidto Gad,"I am in greatdistress.Let us nowfallinto the handof the LORDfor His merciesare great,but do not let me fallinto the handof man."
But thisis a peopleplunderedand despoiled;Allof them are trappedin caves,Or are hiddenaway in prisons;They have becomea preywith noneto deliver[them], And a spoil,with noneto say,"Give[them] back!"
Now as for the cisternwhereIshmaelhad castallthe corpsesof the menwhomhe had struckdownbecauseof Gedaliah,it was the one that KingAsahad madeon accountof Baasha,kingof Israel;Ishmaelthe sonof Nethaniahfilledit with the slain.
"Thusyou shall sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"As I live,surelythose whoare in the wasteplaceswill fallby the sword,and whoeveris in the openfieldI will giveto the beaststo be devoured,and those whoare in the strongholdsand in the caveswill dieof pestilence.
But I am hard-pressedfrom both[directions], havingthe desireto departand be with Christ,for [that] is very muchbetter;
([men] of whomthe worldwas not worthy),wanderingin desertsand mountainsand cavesand holesin the ground.
When the menof Aiturnedbackand looked,behold,the smokeof the cityascendedto the sky,and they hadnoplaceto fleethiswayor that, for the peoplewho had been fleeingto the wildernessturnedagainstthe pursuers.
The sonsof Ammoncrossedthe Jordanto fightalsoagainst Judah,Benjamin,and the houseof Ephraim,so that Israelwas greatlydistressed.
Then the menof Israelturned,and the menof Benjaminwere terrified;for they sawthat disasterwas closeto them.
The powerof MidianprevailedagainstIsrael.Becauseof Midianthe sonsof Israelmadefor themselves the denswhichwere in the mountainsand the cavesand the strongholds.
Then Samuelaroseand wentup from Gilgalto Gibeahof Benjamin.And Saulnumberedthe peoplewho were presentwith him, about sixhundredmen.
When bothof them revealedthemselves to the garrisonof the Philistines,the Philistinessaid,"Behold,Hebrewsare comingout of the holeswherethey have hiddenthemselves."
When allthe menof Israelwho had hiddenthemselves in the hillcountryof Ephraimheardthat the Philistineshad fled,eventhey alsopursuedthem closelyin the battle.
Then Ziphitescameup to Saulat Gibeah,saying,"Is Davidnot hidingwith us in the strongholdsat Horesh,on the hillof Hachilah,whichis on the southof Jeshimon?
He cameto the sheepfoldson the way,wherethere[was] a cave;and Saulwentin to relievehimself. Now Davidand his menwere sittingin the innerrecessesof the cave.
When the menof Israelwhowere on the othersideof the valley,with those whowere beyondthe Jordan,sawthat the menof Israelhad fledand that Sauland his sonswere dead,they abandonedthe citiesand fled;then the Philistinescameand livedin them.
Now when the Philistinesheardthat the sonsof Israelhad gatheredto Mizpah,the lordsof the Philistineswentup againstIsrael.And when the sonsof Israelheardit, they were afraidof the Philistines.
