1Sa 23:1-13 | ESV | STEP | Now they told David , Behold , the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors .

a Josh. 15:44

bSee ch. 22:10

c[See ver. 2 above]

d ver. 14; Josh. 24:11; Judg. 7:7; 20:28

e ch. 22:20

f ch. 30:7; [Num. 27:21]

g ver. 20

h ch. 25:13; 27:2; [ch. 22:2; 30:9, 10]

i[2 Sam. 15:20]

1 Samuel 23:1-13

David Saves the City of Keilah

1 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against ^aKeilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David ^binquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack 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 armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David ^cinquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, ^dfor I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 ^eWhen Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, ^f“Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, ^g“They will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, ^hwho were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went ⁱwherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.