1 Samuel 23:26

24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

25 and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.

Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.

27 Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”

28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
KJV
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
WEB
Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David hurried to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them.
ASV
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
DARBY
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away from Saul; and Saul and his men sought to surround David and his men to take them.
BLB
And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on this side of the mountain. And David made haste to get away from Saul, and Saul and his men were encircling upon David and his men to capture them.
ÅB
Saul gikk på den ene side av fjellet og David og hans menn på den andre side. Og David søkte engstelig å komme bort fra Saul, mens Saul og hans menn holdt på å omringe David og hans menn for å gripe dem.
OTB
Og Saul gikk på den ene siden av fjellet, og David og hans menn på den andre siden av fjellet. Og David skyndte seg for å komme bort fra Saul, for Saul og hans menn omringet David og hans menn for å gripe dem.
B1930
Saul gikk på den ene side av fjellet og David og hans menn på den andre side. Og David søkte engstelig å komme bort fra Saul, mens Saul og hans menn holdt på å omringe David og hans menn for å gripe dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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