1 Samuel 23:1-8 ▼

1 Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are pillaging the threshing floors.”

2 So David asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” And Yahweh said to David, “Go and strike the Philistines and save Keilah.”

3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the battle lines of the Philistines?”

4 Then David asked of Yahweh once more. And Yahweh answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”

5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

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

7 Then it was told to Saul that David had come to Keilah, so Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.”

8 Then Saul summoned all the people for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.