The Continuing Conquest of Canaan^(A)

1 Now after the ^(B)death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel ^(C)asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the ^(D)Canaanites to fight against them?”

² Therefore David ^(A)inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and ^[a]attack these Philistines?”

And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

⁴ Then David inquired of the Lord once again.

And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

⁹ When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, ^(A)he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”

^7 (A)Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And ^(B)Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

^8 (A)So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”