^22 (A)So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

¹⁸ The people of Israel arose and went up to ^(A)Bethel and inquired of God, ^(B)“Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, ^(C)“Judah shall go up first.”

²¹ And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him ^(A)by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.”

¹¹ For ^(A)everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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, ^(A)“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.” ³ But David's men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” ⁴ Then David ^(B)inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, ^(C)for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”

¹⁷ And Samuel said, ^(A)“Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.

²¹ Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, ^(A)from the least of the tribes of Israel? ^(B)And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

²⁸ and ^(A)Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ^(B)ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

^23 (A)And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, “Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against them.”