⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(A) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(B)” ¹⁰ David 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. ¹¹ Will 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.”

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

And the Lord said, “They will.”

¹³ So David and his men,^(D) 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.

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

¹⁵ While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[a] Saul had come out to take his life.^{(I) 16} And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength^(J) in God.

David Defeats the Philistines^(A)

⁸ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel,^(B) they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. ⁹ Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley^(C) of Rephaim; ¹⁰ so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”

¹¹ So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim,^(D) and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^{[a] 12} The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn^(E) them in the fire.^(F)

¹³ Once more the Philistines raided the valley;^{(G) 14} so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ¹⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” ¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon^(H) to Gezer.^(I)