³ and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, ^(A)for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.”

Israel Defeats the Philistines

7 Then the men of ^(A)Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of ^(B)Abinadab on the hill, and ^(C)consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.

Samuel Judges Israel

² So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

⁹ When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, ^(A)he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” ¹⁰ Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah ^(B)to destroy the city for my sake. ¹¹ Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, 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 ^[a]deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”

² Therefore David ^(A)inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and ^[a]attack these Philistines?”

And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

¹⁵ Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.”

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

³⁶ Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.”

And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.”

Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”

¹⁸ And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ^[a]ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel).