²¹ But he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the decision of the Urim before the Lord; at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, the whole congregation.”^(A)

⁶ When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, not by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.^(A)

¹⁴ So the leaders^[a] partook of their provisions and did not ask direction from the Lord.^(A)

³⁰ In the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the Israelites on his heart before the Lord continually.^(A)

⁶⁵ the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should come.^(A)

⁶³ the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.^(A)

⁷ David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.^(A)

⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod here.”^(A)

¹⁰ he inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”^(A)

¹¹ The king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and for all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. ¹² Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.” ¹³ Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword and by inquiring of God for him, so that he has risen against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today?”

¹⁴ Then Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law and is quick^[a] to do your bidding and is honored in your house.^{(B) 15} Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? By no means! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any member of my father’s house, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.”

²⁶ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went back to Bethel and wept, sitting there before the Lord; they fasted that day until evening. Then they offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being before the Lord.^{(A) 27} And the Israelites inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,^{(B) 28} and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our kinsfolk the Benjaminites, or shall we desist?” The Lord answered, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”^(C)