³ And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay^[a] with you, till I know what God will do for me.” ⁴ And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. ⁵ Then the prophet ^(A)Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

David Saves the City of Keilah

23 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against ^(A)Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” ² Therefore David ^(B)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 ^(C)inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, ^(D)for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” ⁵ And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.