The next few years of David’s life were spent is evading Saul’s attempts on his life. However, he was saved with the help of Jonathan, who would intimate David in advance about his father’s plans to kill him.

Jonathan also tried dissuade Saul to spare David’s life by speaking well of David to his father. Some time later there was a war again with the Philistines and David fought bravely again and struck them a blow, before they fled. And the harmful spirit again came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with a spear in his hand. While David played the lyre as usual, Saul again tried to pin him to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

Saul then sent his messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, let him down the window and he fled away and escaped.

Now David fled and escaped to Samuel the prophet, but when Saul came chasing him, the spirit of God came upon him and he stripped off his clothes, and he too began prophesying before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. 

David fled from there and met Jonathan who promised him to disclose Saul’s intentions to David, whenever Saul would plan an attempt on his life, for he said “Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me, And why should my father hide this from me”.

The next say was a new moon day and as a custom David was to sit on the table with the king, but David fled and hid himself in the field. When Saul did not find David in his seat he enquired Jonathan about his whereabouts but Jonathan replied saying David had to meet his brothers for a sacrifice. Saul became furious at Jonathan and began cursing him. He then thew his spear at him to strike him. However Jonathan, rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

He signaled David hiding in the field to flee away from the city. Both hugged and kissed each other, wept with each other, before departing with David weeping the most.

Then David came to Nob, where the priest offered him the holy bread to eat. He also gave him the sword of Goliath which was wrapped in a cloth there ever since David killed Goliath. Now a certain man of the servants of Saul  was there that day, who later snitched to Saul about the priest of Nob giving refuge to David.

From there David fled to Achish the king of Gathe, but the servants of Achish recognized and held him, but later let  him go because he pretended to be insane with spittle running down his beard.

David then departed and escaped to the cave of Abdullam. There many distressed people gathered to him, and he became the commander over them. His brothers and his clan also came there to join him. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Now, when Saul discovered that the priest of Nob had given provisions to David, and had also given him the sword of Goliath, he asked the same snitch to kill all the priests of the LORD who numbered eighty five. Not just the priests, Saul ordered the entire city of Nob to be put to sword, with all its men, women, children and cattle.

David was informed of the massacre by one of the sons of the priest who escaped and took refuge with David.

Now David and his men fought one more battle with the Philistines to defend the city of Keilah, but Saul followed him even there continually seeking his life. But God did not give him to Saul’s hand. 

David then fled to the wilderness of Horse, where Saul followed him with three thousand of his men. Here Saul went to relieve himself in a cave all by himself, n the innermost parts of which David and his men were sitting.  David’s men said to him, “Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you,”  But he didn’t want to kill the Lord’s anointed servant, so he arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 

When Saul arose and began going his way, David also went out and called after him, “My lord the king!”, bowing down before him. And David said to Saul “Why do you listen to men who say, ‘Behold David seeks you harm’. ‘Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you.’ I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ See my father see the corner of your robe in my hand. Out of wickedness comes wickedness’. But my hand shall not be against you. And whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the Lord therefore be the judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand”.

As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy will he let him of away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold , I know that you shall surely be a king, and that kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.