23 Some time later, David was told, “Listen, the Philistines are fighting against the city of Ke’ilah and they are stealing grain from the threshing floors,” 2 so he asked Yahweh, “Should I go and attack those Philistines?”

“Go and attack the Philistines and save Ke’ilah,” Yahweh responded.

3 But David’s men warned him, “Listen, we’re afraid here in Yehudah, and we’d be even more afraid if we went to Ke’ilah against the Philistines’ battle lines.” 4 So David double-checked with Yahweh who answered, “Get ready and go to Ke’ilah, because I’m about to give you victory over the Philistines.” 5 Then David and his men went to Ke’ilah and battled against the Philistines—thoroughly defeating them and taking their livestock, thus saving the inhabitants of Ke’ilah.

6 Now when Ahimelek’s son Abiatar had fled to David at Ke’ilah, he’d brought a sacred apron with him.

7 Sha’ul was told that David had gone to Ke’ilah, so he said, “Ah, God has deserted him and given him to me because he’s shut himself in by going into a walled city with doors that can be barred shut.” 8 So Sha’ul initiated preparations to go to Ke’ilah to entrap David and his men.

9 But David discovered that Sha’ul was planning to destroy him, so he summoned Abiatar the priest, “Bring the sacred apron here.” 10 Then David prayed, “Yahweh, God of Israel, your servant has heard that Sha’ul is intending to come to Ke’ilah—to destroy the city because of me. 11 Will Sha’ul come here, just as your servant has heard? Will the masters of Ke’ilah turn me over to him? Yahweh, God of Israel, please tell your servant.”

“Yes, he will go there,” Yahweh answered.

12 “And will the masters of Ke’ilah hand me and my men over to Sha’ul?” David asked again.

And Yahweh said, “They will deliver up.”

13 So David and his men (about 600 of them), left Ke’ilah and moved around from place to place. When Sha’ul was told that David had slipped away from Ke’ilah, he didn’t continue with his plans.