¹⁰ And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.”

¹⁴ And when David again inquired of God, ^(A)God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees.

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.”

¹⁵ And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” ¹⁶ But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” ¹⁷ And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, ^(A)as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’”

⁶ Then the king of Israel ^(A)gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

¹⁹ And David ^(A)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”

David Anointed King of Judah

2 After this David ^(A)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To ^(B)Hebron.”

^8 (A)And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this ^(B)band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake ^(C)and shall surely rescue.”

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.”