³ Then David took an oath again, and said, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But ^(A)truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”

⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for ^(A)the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was ^[a]grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. ^(B)But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

^7 (C)Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And ^(D)Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ^8 (E)So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”