1 Samuel 23:1–14

David Delivers Keilah

1 Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against aKeilah and are plundering the threshing floors.”

2 So David ainquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and 1attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and 1attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”

3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”

4 Then David inquired of the Lord once more. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for aI will give the Philistines into your hand.”

5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech afled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7 When it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has 1delivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.”

8 So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

9 Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to aAbiathar the priest, “bBring the ephod here.”

10 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.

11 “Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.”

12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “aThey will surrender you.”

13 Then David and his men, aabout six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went bwherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he 1gave up the pursuit.

14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of aZiph. And Saul sought him every day, but bGod did not deliver him into his hand.