David Anointed King Over Judah

2 In the course of time, David inquired^(A) of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.

The Lord said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?”

“To Hebron,”^(B) the Lord answered.

³¹ and Hebron;^(A) and to those in all the other places where he and his men had roamed.

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.”

⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(A) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(B)” ¹⁰ David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. ¹¹ Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will.”

¹² Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender^(C) me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

⁴ Once again David inquired^(A) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines^(B) into your hand.^(C)”

² When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!”^(A) So he named that place Mahanaim.^[a](B)

³⁷ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea^(A) and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,^(B)