1 Samuel 23:1–12

David Saves the City of Keilah

²³Now they told David, “The Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.”^{* 2}David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”^{* 3}But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” ⁴Then David inquired of the Lord again. The Lord answered him, “Yes, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”^{* 5}So David and his men went to Keilah, fought with the Philistines, brought away their livestock, and dealt them a heavy defeat. Thus David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.

⁶When Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.^{* 7}Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given^w him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” ⁸Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. ⁹When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod here.”^{* 10}David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. ¹¹And now, will^x Saul come down as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant.” The Lord said, “He will come down.” ¹²Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The Lord said, “They will surrender you.”^*