Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and lived in Naioth.
"When they saw the company of the prophets prophesying"  (1 Samuel 19:20).  This was probably the most disgusting thing imaginable that could have happened to a band of Saul's soldiers.  We are told absolutely nothing about the nature of this demonstration which overcame the armed "messengers"; but, whatever it was, it made it impossible for them to proceed with their mission to arrest David.