⁶ Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech ^(A)fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

²⁴ Now behold, ^(A)Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, ^(B)carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and ^(C)Abiathar came up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. ²⁵ And the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then ^(D)He will bring me back and show me both it and ^(E)His habitation. ²⁶ But if He says this: ‘^(F)I have no delight in you,’ then here I am, ^(G)let Him do to me as seems good ^[a]to Him.” ²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not ^(H)a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your ^(I)two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. ²⁸ See, I am going to wait ^(J)at the river crossing places of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.