1 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired 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 inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for 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 When 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, “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, “They will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
15 David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
19 Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon? 20 Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.” 21 And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me. 22 Go, make yet more sure. Know and see the place where his foot is, and who has seen him there, for it is told me that he is very cunning. 23 See therefore and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you. And if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.” 24 And they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul.
Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. 25 And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
The story seems to move briefly back to a time before Abiathar arrived in David’s camp. The Philistines were attacking Keilah, an agricultural city of Judah. David was in a position to help and asked God if he should go and attack the Philistines. David was a patriot and desired to help his fellow countrymen but would not move without confirmation that he was acting within God’s will. It’s not clear how David sought God’s will because he didn’t have a priest with him who would have used the Urim and Thummim from the priestly ephod (Ex 28:6-35). Evidently, the men with David weren’t convinced of the Lord’s answer and were afraid to proceed. David inquired of the Lord again and received the same answer to proceed with the confirmation that He would give him victory over the Philistines. David and his men fought the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah acquiring some livestock in the process.
Abiathar, who had fled from Saul’s murder of the priestly family, came to David with an ephod in hand giving them access to the officially sanctioned method of seeking the Lord’s will (Num 27:21).
Saul heard that David was in Keilah and saw it as God handing him over through advantageous circumstances. Contrast that with David who actually asked God what to do next using the ephod that had recently arrived. David knew that Saul was on his way and would destroy the city he had just rescued on his account. He asked God if the people would betray him to Saul—an understandable action for those looking to save themselves. God confirmed that they would surrender him and his men to Saul so David and his men left for the strongholds in the wilderness. At this time David’s band had increased to six hundred men. David’s departure meant that Saul did no go to Keilah. Saul pursued David every day but God kept him and those with him safe.
While David was in the wilderness, Jonathan, Saul’s son, came out to meet with him and encouraged David to find strength in God. Jonathan reminded his friend of the promise God had made to him, that he would be king over Israel. Because God had established that David would be king he didn’t need to be afraid of Saul.
The Ziphites went to Saul and betrayed that David was hiding in the wilderness near to them. It was understandable that the men of Keilah would betray David under fear of Saul’s retribution. But the Ziphites were active in their betrayal and they begged Saul to come down. Saul again showed that he believed God was on his side by responding, “May you be blessed by the Lord”. Then he charged them to find out more information that would help him to apprehend David. When Saul and his army were closing in on David and his men and about to capture them, a messenger came to Saul and informed him of a Philistine raid against Israel. Saul had to put country over personal vendetta and returned to deal with the Philistines. Once again God had intervened to keep David safe.
Do you make it a habit to seek God’s will before making major decisions? Do you have friends, like Jonathan, who encourage you to find your strength in God and His promises when you are facing tough situations? Are you such a friend?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Sending Out the Seventy: Luke 9-10