1 Samuel 23:1-12

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 23

Keilah Liberated. ¹ David was informed that the Philistines were attacking Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.^{(A) 2} So he consulted the Lord, asking, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord answered, Go, attack them, and free Keilah.^{(B) 3} But David’s men said to him: “Even in Judah we have reason to fear. How much more so if we go to Keilah against the forces of the Philistines!” ⁴ Again David consulted the Lord, who answered: Go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your power.^{(C) 5} So David went with his men to Keilah and fought against the Philistines. He drove off their cattle and inflicted a severe defeat on them, and freed the inhabitants of Keilah.

⁶ Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, who had fled to David, went down with David to Keilah, taking the ephod with him.^(D)

Flight from Keilah. ⁷ When Saul was told that David had entered Keilah, he thought: “God has put him in my hand, for he has boxed himself in by entering a city with gates and bars.” ⁸ Saul then called all the army to war, in order to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men. ⁹ When David found out that Saul was planning to harm him, he said to the priest Abiathar, “Bring the ephod here.”^{(E) 10} “Lord God of Israel,” David prayed, “your servant has heard that Saul plans to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. ¹¹ Will they hand me over? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, tell your servant.” The Lord answered: He will come down. ¹² David then asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The Lord answered: They will deliver you.