³ Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, ^(A)for we did not seek it^[a] in the days of Saul.”

7 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of ^(A)Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord. ² From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

⁹ David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, ^(A)“Bring the ephod here.” ¹⁰ Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks 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, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please 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, ^(B)“They will surrender you.”

² Therefore David ^(A)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

¹⁵ Is today the first time ^(A)that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, ^(B)much or little.”

^10 (A)and he inquired of the Lord for him and ^(B)gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

³⁶ Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But ^(A)the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”

¹⁸ So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people^[a] of Israel.