Chapter 7: The Trap

Shortly after Jonathan left, the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah. These were men from David's own tribe of Judah. And they handed him over willingly.

ZIPHITES“Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon?”— 1 Samuel 23:19

Then Saul moved south with his men into the wilderness of Maon. David heard he was coming and went further into the wilderness.

Saul and his army moved along one side of the mountain while David and his men rushed along the other side, trying to get away. But Saul's forces were faster. They began to spread out ahead of David, closing in from multiple directions to surround him. He could not fight three thousand soldiers with six hundred fugitives.

Then, when Saul was about to close in, a messenger reached him.

MESSENGER“Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.”— 1 Samuel 23:27

Saul had no choice but to turn back.

David and his men left the wilderness of Maon and traveled east to the strongholds of En Gedi, along the western shore of the Dead Sea.