(Numbered events in narrative correspond to numbered events on maps.)
1) After David defeated Goliath and came to serve Saul at the royal court in Gibeah, he continued to demonstrate himself as an able commander and grew in favor with the people, and he developed a deep friendship with Saul’s son Jonathan. At the same time, however, Saul grew jealous of David’s success and eventually sought to kill him (1 Samuel 16-18), 2) so David fled to the prophet Samuel at Ramah (1 Samuel 19). 3) Later David returned to Gibeah, and Jonathan warned him that Saul was determined to kill him (1 Samuel 20), 4) so David fled to the priestly town of Nob. There the priest Ahimelech gave him food and the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:1-9). 5) David then sought asylum in Gath and pretended to be insane to avoid suspicion from the king of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15). 6) David later left Gath and lived in a cave at Adullam. There many family members and discontented people joined his small army (1 Samuel 22:1-2). 7) Then David took his parents to Moab, where he placed them in the care of the king of Moab (1 Samuel 22:3-4). 8) After this David stayed for a while in The Stronghold, which may have been the fortress of Masada (1 Samuel 22:4), 9) and then the Lord told him to go to the Forest of Hereth, and the priest Abiathar eventually joined him there (1 Samuel 22 4:5). 10) Then the Lord told David to rescue the town of Keilah, and David stayed in the town after this (1 Samuel 23:1-12). 11) Later David stayed in various strongholds in the Wilderness of Ziph (1 Samuel 23:13-23). 12) While he was in the Wilderness of Maon, David narrowly escaped capture by Saul (1 Samuel 23:24-28; see also 1 Samuel 26:1-4), 13) and soon after this he moved to the strongholds of En-gedi, where he spared Saul’s life (1 Samuel 23:29-24:22; see also 1 Samuel 26:5-25). 14) David went back to The Stronghold (1 Samuel 24:23) 15) and then to the Wilderness of Maon, where he married a woman named Abigail after her husband died (1 Samuel 25:1-44). Eventually David returned to Gath (1 Samuel 27).
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