Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah.“ Good!” he exclaimed.“ We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!”So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men.But David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask the Lord what he should do.Then David prayed,“ O Lord, God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come and destroy Keilah because I am here.Will the leaders of Keilah betray me to him? And will Saul actually come as I have heard? O Lord, God of Israel, please tell me.” And the Lord said,“ He will come.”Again David asked,“ Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord replied,“ Yes, they will betray you.”So David and his men— about 600 of them now— left Keilah and began roaming the countryside. Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all.
For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
