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.