1 Samuel 22:1-5

David at Adullam and Mizpah

1 Then David left Gath and he went to a cave near Adullam. His brothers and his father's family discovered where he had gone. So they all went to visit him. 2 Everybody who had trouble went to stay with David. People who had debts and those who were angry also went to him. About 400 men went to be with David and he became their leader.

22:1David's family was from the town of Bethlehem in the land that belonged to Judah's tribe. Adullam was between Gath and Bethlehem. So David was now returning to his home region.

3 David then went to Mizpah, a town in the land of Moab. David said to the king of Moab, ‘Please let my father and my mother stay with you for a short time. I need to learn what God will do to help me.’ 4 So David left his parents to stay with the king of Moab. They stayed with the king all the time that David was hiding near there.

5 The prophet Gad said to David, ‘Do not stay and hide here. Go to the land of Judah.’ So David left his safe place and he went to Hereth forest.