1 Samuel 23:26

And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. Saul was busily engaged in surrounding the hill where David and his little band of followers lay encamped, with a cordon of troops, and hoped soon to cut off all means of their escape, when intelligence unexpectedly reached him of a fresh invasion of the Philistines on the western side of the country; so that, being obliged to subordinate his private feelings for the defence of the public safety, he was obliged to abandon his project, and direct his arms against the Philistine invaders.