(And when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech (A)fled to David to Keilah, he brought an [a]Ephod [b]with him.)

¶ And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah, and Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand: for he is shut in, seeing he is come into a city that hath gates and bars.

Then Saul called all the people together to war for to go down to Keilah, and to besiege David and his men.

¶ And David having knowledge that Saul imagined mischief against him, said to Abiathar the Priest, [c]Bring the Ephod.

10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath heard, that Saul is about to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.

11 Will the lords of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? and will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.

12 Then said David, Will the [d]lords of Keilah deliver me up, and the men that are with me, into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.

13 ¶ Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went [e]whither they could. And it was told Saul, that David was fled from Keilah, and he left off his journey.

14 And David abode in the wilderness in the [f]holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God [g]delivered him not into his hand.

15 And David saw that Saul was come out for to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 23:6 By God’s providence the Ephod was preserved and kept with David the true king.
  2. 1 Samuel 23:6 Hebrew, in his hand.
  3. 1 Samuel 23:9 To consult with the Lord by Urim and Thummim.
  4. 1 Samuel 23:12 Or, governors.
  5. 1 Samuel 23:13 Or, to and fro, as having no certain place to go.
  6. 1 Samuel 23:14 Or, strong places.
  7. 1 Samuel 23:14 No power nor policy can prevail against God’s children, but when he appointeth the time.

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