² When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.

¹² God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you.^(A) People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord,^(B) the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”^(C)

⁶ Moses sent them into battle,^(A) a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas^(B) son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary^(C) and the trumpets^(D) for signaling.

⁸ “The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come.^{(A) 9} When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you,^(B) sound a blast on the trumpets.^(C) Then you will be remembered^(D) by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies.^(E)

⁷ Then David said to Abiathar^(A) the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.^(B)” Abiathar brought it to him, ⁸ and David inquired^(C) of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed^(D) in the rescue.^(E)”

¹⁸ Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring^(A) the ark^(B) of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)^[a]

²⁷ And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.^(A) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God^(B) was there, ²⁸ with Phinehas son of Eleazar,^(C) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)^(D) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”

The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.^(E)”