1 Samuel 23:6-15

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁶ When Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.^{(A) 7} Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given^[a] him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” ⁸ Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. ⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod here.”^{(B) 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. ¹¹ And now, will^[b] 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.” ¹² Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The Lord said, “They will surrender you.”^{(C) 13} Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, set out and left Keilah; they wandered wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.^{(D) 14} David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but the Lord^[c] did not give him into his hand.^(E)

David Eludes Saul in the Wilderness

¹⁵ David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh when he learned that^[d] Saul had come out to seek his life.