1 Samuel 23:7–14

⁷When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.” ⁸Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

⁹When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, ^c“Bring the ephod.” ^d

¹⁰Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. ¹¹Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”

The Lord answered, “He will come down.”

¹²Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?”

“They will,” ^ethe Lord responded.

¹³So David and his men, numbering about 600, ^fleft Keilah at once and moved from place to place. ^gWhen it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. ¹⁴David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. ^hSaul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him. ⁱ