The Continuing Conquest of Canaan^(A)

1 Now after the ^(B)death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel ^(C)asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the ^(D)Canaanites to fight against them?”

¹⁸ Then the children of Israel arose and ^(A)went up to ^[a]the house of God to ^(B)inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?”

The Lord said, ^(C)“Judah first!”

^21 (A)He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him ^(B)by the judgment of the Urim. ^(C)At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.”

^28 (A)and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ^(B)stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?”

And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

⁹ When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, ^(A)he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” ¹⁰ Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah ^(B)to destroy the city for my sake.