Bible Gateway passage: 1 Samuel 23:1-14 - New International Version (2024)

David Saves Keilah

23When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah^(A) and are looting the threshing floors,”^{(B) 2}he inquired^(C) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

³But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

⁴Once again David inquired^(D) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines^(E) into your hand.^(F)” ⁵So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. ⁶(Now Abiathar^(G) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod^(H) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David

⁷Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands,^(I) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”^{(J) 8}And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

⁹When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(K) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(L)” ¹⁰David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. ¹¹Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will.”

¹²Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender^(M) me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

¹³So David and his men,^(N) about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

¹⁴David stayed in the wilderness^(O) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.^(P) Day after day Saul searched^(Q) for him, but God did not^(R) give David into his hands.

Cross references

1. 1 Samuel 23:1 : S Jos 15:44
2. 1 Samuel 23:1 : S Nu 18:27; S Jdg 6:11
3. 1 Samuel 23:2 : ver 4, 12; 1Sa 22:10; 30:8; 2Sa 2:1; 5:19, 23; Ps 50:15
4. 1 Samuel 23:4 : S ver 2
5. 1 Samuel 23:4 : S 1Sa 9:16
6. 1 Samuel 23:4 : S Jos 8:7
7. 1 Samuel 23:6 : S 1Sa 22:20
8. 1 Samuel 23:6 : S 1Sa 2:28
9. 1 Samuel 23:7 : S Dt 32:30
10. 1 Samuel 23:7 : Ps 31:21
11. 1 Samuel 23:9 : S 1Sa 22:20
12. 1 Samuel 23:9 : S 1Sa 2:18
13. 1 Samuel 23:12 : ver 20
14. 1 Samuel 23:13 : S 1Sa 22:2
15. 1 Samuel 23:14 : Ps 55:7
16. 1 Samuel 23:14 : S Jos 15:24, 55
17. 1 Samuel 23:14 : Ps 54:3-4
18. 1 Samuel 23:14 : Ps 32:7