1 Samuel 23:1-12

1Then they informed David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against 1Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.” 2So David 2inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and 3attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and 4attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are fearful here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?” 4So David inquired of the Lord once more. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for 5I am going to hand the Philistines over to you.” 5Then David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines; and he drove away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech 6fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7When it was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has handed him over to me, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.” 8So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. 9But David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to 7Abiathar the priest, “8Bring the ephod here.” 10Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account. 11Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12Then David said, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?” And the Lord said, “9They will hand you over.”