Naioth

Naioth is a place in Ramah associated with Samuel's company of prophets. David flees there from Saul, and the site becomes the setting for one of the strangest scenes in the Saul narrative.

David's Refuge with Samuel

When Saul's hostility reaches its breaking point, David takes shelter with the prophet at Ramah, and the two relocate together: "Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth" (1 Sam 19:18). The location is twice repeated as the news reaches Saul: "And it was told Saul, saying, Look, David is at Naioth in Ramah" (1 Sam 19:19).

The Spirit Falls on Saul's Messengers

Three successive parties of Saul's messengers come to Naioth to seize David. Each is overcome by the Spirit and joins the prophets in their prophesying (1 Sam 19:20-21). Saul himself then goes — "Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Look, they are at Naioth in Ramah" (1 Sam 19:22) — and the same pattern overtakes him: "And he went there to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes, and he also prophesied before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?" (1 Sam 19:23-24).

David's Departure

The episode closes with David's flight from Naioth to Jonathan: "And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my soul?" (1 Sam 20:1). After this point Naioth drops out of the narrative.