⁷ Then David said to Abiathar^(A) the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.^(B)” Abiathar brought it to him,

²⁶ To Abiathar^(A) the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth.^(B) You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark^(C) of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.”^(D)

²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,^(A) named Abiathar,^(B) escaped and fled to join David.^{(C) 21} He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.

²⁶ In the days of Abiathar the high priest,^(A) he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.^(B) And he also gave some to his companions.”^(C)

² he inquired^(A) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

³ But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

⁴ Once again David inquired^(B) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines^(C) into your hand.^(D)” ⁵ So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. ⁶ (Now Abiathar^(E) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod^(F) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David

⁷ Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands,^(G) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”^{(H) 8} And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(I) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(J)”