⁶ Now when Ahimelech’s son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod^[a] had come down with him.

⁷ It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, “The Lord has delivered^[b] him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars.” ⁸ Saul summoned for battle all his forces^[c] to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

⁹ David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

¹⁰ David said, “Lord God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me. ¹¹ Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him?^[d] Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please inform your servant.”

The Lord said, “He will come down.”

¹² Then David said, “Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?”^[e]

The Lord said, “They’ll hand you over.” ¹³ David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign.^[f]

Jonathan Visits David

¹⁴ David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and he lived in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not let David^[g] slip into Saul’s^[h] control. ¹⁵ David was afraid because^[i] Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.