1 Samuel 22:1-5

Expanded Bible

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David ·left Gath [^Lwent from there] and ·escaped to [took refuge in] the cave of Adullam [^Cin the lowlands of Judah, southwest of Jerusalem]. When his brothers and ·other relatives [^Lhis father’s household] heard that he was there, they went to ·see him [join him; ^Lhim]. ² Everyone who was in ·trouble [distress], or ·who owed money [in debt], or who was ·unsatisfied [discontented; had a grievance] gathered around David, and he became their ·leader [captain; commander]. About four hundred men were with him.

³ From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and spoke to the king of Moab. He said, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God ·is going [intends] to do for me.” ⁴ So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was hiding in the stronghold.

⁵ But the prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. ·Go [Return] to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.