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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/23.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, <i>that</i> he came down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, <i>that</i> he went down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, <i>that</i> he came down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, <i>that</i> he came down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, <i>that</i> he came down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When Ahimelech's son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod with him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped and joined David in Keilah, he took the ephod with him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David, that he went down with David to Keilah, having an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass, in the fleeing of Abiathar son of Ahimelech to David, to Keilah, an ephod came down in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass, in the fleeing of Abiathar son of Ahimelech unto David, to Keilah, an ephod came down in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be in the fleeing of Abiathar son of Ahimelech, to David to Keilah, he brought down an ephod in his hand.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now at that time, when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David to Ceila, he came down having an ephod with him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And in that time, when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, was in exile with David, he had descended to Keilah, having an ephod with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, who had fled to David, went down with David to Keilah, taking the ephod with him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimeleck fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And when Abiathar son of Akhimelek fled to David to Qayla, an ephod came down in his hand<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David, that he went down with David to Keila, having and ephod in his hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/23-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=6779" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/23.htm">David Delivers Keilah</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">5</span>Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah. <span class="reftext">6</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">(Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/54.htm" title="54: ’eḇ·yā·ṯār (N-proper-ms) -- The great one is father, an Isr. priest. Contracted from 'ab and yathar; father of abundance; Ebjathar, an Israelite.">Abiathar</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ben- (N-msc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">son</a> <a href="/hebrew/288.htm" title="288: ’ă·ḥî·me·leḵ (N-proper-ms) -- From 'ach and melek; brother of king; Achimelek, the name of an Israelite and of a Hittite.">of Ahimelech</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: yā·raḏ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To come or go down, descend. ">had brought</a> <a href="/hebrew/646.htm" title="646: ’ê·p̄ō·wḏ (N-ms) -- Rarely oephod; probably of foreign derivation; a girdle; specifically the ephod or high-priest's shoulder- piece; also generally, an image.">the ephod</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: bə·yā·ḏōw (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">with him</a> <a href="/hebrew/1272.htm" title="1272: biḇ·rō·aḥ (Prep-b:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To go through, flee. A primitive root; to bolt, i.e. Figuratively, to flee suddenly.">when he fled</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1732.htm" title="1732: dā·wiḏ (N-proper-ms) -- Perhaps beloved one, a son of Jesse. Rarely; Daviyd; from the same as dowd; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse.">David</a> <a href="/hebrew/7084.htm" title="7084: qə·‘î·lāh (N-proper-fs) -- A city in Judah. Perhaps from qala' in the sense of inclosing; citadel; Keilah, a place in Palestine.">at Keilah.)</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/28-30.htm">Exodus 28:30</a></span><br />And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/27-21.htm">Numbers 27:21</a></span><br />He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/20-18.htm">Judges 20:18</a></span><br />The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/14-18.htm">1 Samuel 14:18-19</a></span><br />Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.) / While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued to increase. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/30-7.htm">1 Samuel 30:7-8</a></span><br />Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him, / and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/2-1.htm">2 Samuel 2:1</a></span><br />Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/5-19.htm">2 Samuel 5:19</a></span><br />So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/21-1.htm">2 Samuel 21:1</a></span><br />During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/2-26.htm">1 Kings 2:26</a></span><br />Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/3-4.htm">1 Kings 3:4-5</a></span><br />Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there. / One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/13-3.htm">1 Chronicles 13:3</a></span><br />Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/15-11.htm">1 Chronicles 15:11-13</a></span><br />David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. / And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. / It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/21-29.htm">1 Chronicles 21:29-30</a></span><br />For the tabernacle of the LORD that Moses had made in the wilderness and the altar of burnt offering were presently at the high place in Gibeon, / but David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/1-5.htm">2 Chronicles 1:5-6</a></span><br />But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there. / Solomon offered sacrifices there before the LORD on the bronze altar at the Tent of Meeting, where he offered a thousand burnt offerings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/7-65.htm">Nehemiah 7:65</a></span><br />The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.</p><p class="hdg">when Abiathar</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/22-20.htm">1 Samuel 22:20</a></b></br> And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.</p><p class="hdg">an ephod</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/14-3.htm">1 Samuel 14:3,18,36,37</a></b></br> And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/28-30.htm">Exodus 28:30,31</a></b></br> And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/22-22.htm">Abiathar</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-22.htm">Abi'athar</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-20.htm">Ahimelech</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-20.htm">Ahim'elech</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-5.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-18.htm">Ephod</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-4.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-5.htm">Keilah</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-5.htm">Kei'lah</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/23-9.htm">Abiathar</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-9.htm">Abi'athar</a> <a href="/1_samuel/26-6.htm">Ahimelech</a> <a href="/1_samuel/26-6.htm">Ahim'elech</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-7.htm">David</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-9.htm">Ephod</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-7.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-7.htm">Keilah</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-7.htm">Kei'lah</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/23-1.htm">David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/23-7.htm">God showing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/23-13.htm">he escapes from Keilah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/23-14.htm">In Ziph Jonathan comes and comforts him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/23-19.htm">The Ziphites discover him to Saul</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/23-25.htm">At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/23-29.htm">He dwells at En Gedi</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech</b><br>Abiathar was the only surviving son of Ahimelech, the high priest who was killed by King Saul's orders at Nob. This event is significant as it marks a turning point in the priesthood, with Abiathar becoming a key religious figure during David's rise to power. The lineage of Abiathar connects to the priestly line of Eli, fulfilling the prophecy of the downfall of Eli's house (<a href="/1_samuel/2-31.htm">1 Samuel 2:31-36</a>).<p><b>had brought the ephod with him</b><br>The ephod was a priestly garment, often associated with the high priest, and was used for seeking God's guidance. Its presence with Abiathar signifies the continuation of legitimate priestly functions despite Saul's actions. The ephod's role in divination and decision-making is seen in other scriptures, such as when David inquires of the Lord (<a href="/1_samuel/23-9.htm">1 Samuel 23:9-12</a>). This highlights the importance of seeking divine guidance in leadership.<p><b>when he fled to David at Keilah</b><br>Abiathar's flight to David signifies a shift in allegiance from Saul to David, indicating David's growing influence and the divine favor upon him. Keilah was a city in Judah, and David's presence there underscores his role as a protector of the people, foreshadowing his future kingship. This event also prefigures Christ as a refuge and protector for those who seek Him, as David becomes a refuge for Abiathar.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abiathar.htm">Abiathar</a></b><br>The son of Ahimelech, a priest who escaped the massacre of the priests at Nob by Saul. He fled to David, bringing with him the ephod, a priestly garment used for seeking God's guidance.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/ahimelech.htm">Ahimelech</a></b><br>The father of Abiathar and a priest who was killed by Saul for assisting David. His death marked a significant turning point in the priestly support for David.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The future king of Israel, who was at this time fleeing from King Saul. David was in Keilah, a city he had just saved from the Philistines.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/k/keilah.htm">Keilah</a></b><br>A city in Judah that David saved from the Philistines. It became a temporary refuge for David and his men.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephod.htm">Ephod</a></b><br>A sacred priestly garment associated with seeking divine guidance. Abiathar brought it to David, symbolizing the transfer of priestly support to David.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_seeking_god's_guidance.htm">The Importance of Seeking God's Guidance</a></b><br>Abiathar bringing the ephod to David symbolizes the importance of seeking divine guidance in times of uncertainty. As believers, we should prioritize seeking God's will in our decisions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_in_times_of_trouble.htm">God's Provision in Times of Trouble</a></b><br>Abiathar's escape and the ephod's presence with David demonstrate God's provision and faithfulness. Even in dire circumstances, God provides the means for His people to seek Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_spiritual_leadership.htm">The Role of Spiritual Leadership</a></b><br>Abiathar's alignment with David signifies the importance of spiritual leadership and support. As Christians, we should seek and support godly leaders who prioritize God's guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_transfer_of_god's_favor.htm">The Transfer of God's Favor</a></b><br>The movement of the ephod from Saul's domain to David's camp signifies a shift in divine favor. It reminds us that God's plans and purposes prevail, even when human leadership fails.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_1_sam_23's_ephod_use_differ.htm">How does God’s guidance through the ephod in 1 Samuel 23 contrast with other Old Testament passages that emphasize prophets rather than priestly objects for divine messages?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'ephod'_mean.htm">What does 'ephod' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_david_use_the_ephod_for_guidance.htm">How did David consult the ephod for instant divine guidance in 1 Samuel 23:9–12 when similar direct communication is uncommon elsewhere in the Old Testament? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_zadok_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Zadok in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) <span class= "bld">With an ephod in his hand.</span>--The difficulty-here with the version and commentators is that they failed to understand that enquiry of the Lord could be made in any other mode than through the Urim. (See Note above on <a href="/1_samuel/23-2.htm" title="Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.">1Samuel 23:2</a>.) Saul in happier days, we know, enquired and received replies <span class= "ital">"through prophets," </span>for before he had recourse to forbidden arts we read how, in contrast evidently to other and earlier times, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, <span class= "ital">nor by prophets </span>(<a href="/1_samuel/28-6.htm" title="And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.">1Samuel 28:6</a>). The LXX. here must have deliberately altered the Hebrew text, with the view of escaping what seemed to these translators a grave difficulty. They render. "And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David, that he came down with David to Keilah, having an ephod in his hand," thus implying that Abiathar had come down <span class= "ital">with David </span>to Keilah, having joined him previously. The Hebrew text is, however, definite and clear, and tells us that Abiathar first joined David when he was at Keilah. But the difficulty which puzzled the LXX. and so many others vanishes when we remember that the enquiry of the Lord was not unfrequently made through the prophet; and this was evidently done by David through Gad, a famous representative of that order, in the case of the enquiry referred to in <a href="/1_samuel/23-2.htm" title="Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said to David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.">1Samuel 23:2</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/23-4.htm" title="Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.">1Samuel 23:4</a> of this chapter.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">When Abiathar... fled to David to Koilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.</span> Literally, "an ephod came down in his hand, and so, word for word, the Syriac. The object of this verse is to explain how it was that David (in vers. 2 and 4) was able to inquire of Jehovah. The words <span class="cmt_word">to Keilah</span> - Hebrew, Kelah-wards - do not mean that it was at Keilah that Abiathar joined David, but that he came in time to go thither with him. In <a href="/1_samuel/22-20.htm">1 Samuel 22:20</a> it seems as if Abiathar must have joined David even at an earlier date, for he is represented as fleeing to him immediately after the massacre of the priests at Nob. Now, granting that David's stay at Gath with Achish was very brief, he must have remained at Adullam a considerable time, inasmuch as men joined him there in large numbers (<a href="/1_samuel/22-2.htm">1 Samuel 22:2</a>), which seems to show that his hiding place had become generally known. It was probably this concourse of men to him that was "discovered," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> made known, to Saul, and, as being an act of formal revolt, so raised his ire. As being supposed to be in league with David, Saul put the priests to death, and Abiathar fled; but probably the news of this terrible act had already reached David, and, in anxiety about his father and mother, he had gone to find refuge for them in Moab. Thither Gad follows him, bringing prophetic approval of his conduct, but ordering him to return into the territory of his own tribe. If then David was on his way to Moab when Abiathar reached Adullam, he may have remained in hiding there till David's return to the thickets of Hareth. But, possibly, even before Abiathar joined him the news may have arrived of the Philistine foray, and David's mind was set Keilah-wards. But there were those who doubted of the prudence of this proceeding, and Abiathars arrival with the ephod enabled him to consult Jehovah's will. By his presence also David had now the approval of the priesthood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/23-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">(Now</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Abiathar</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶבְיָתָ֧ר</span> <span class="translit">(’eḇ·yā·ṯār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_54.htm">Strong's 54: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abiathar -- 'the great one is father', an Israelite priest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">son</span><br /><span class="heb">בֶּן־</span> <span class="translit">(ben-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Ahimelech</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥî·me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_288.htm">Strong's 288: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ahimelech -- 'brother of a king', an Israelite name, also a Hittite name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had brought</span><br /><span class="heb">יָרַ֥ד</span> <span class="translit">(yā·raḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the ephod</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵפ֖וֹד</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·p̄ō·wḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_646.htm">Strong's 646: </a> </span><span class="str2">A girdle, the ephod, highpriest's shoulder-piece, an image</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with him</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּיָדֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(bə·yā·ḏōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when he fled</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּ֠בְרֹחַ</span> <span class="translit">(biḇ·rō·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1272.htm">Strong's 1272: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bolt, to flee suddenly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">David</span><br /><span class="heb">דָּוִ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(dā·wiḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1732.htm">Strong's 1732: </a> </span><span class="str2">David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at Keilah.)</span><br /><span class="heb">קְעִילָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(qə·‘î·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7084.htm">Strong's 7084: </a> </span><span class="str2">Keilah -- a city in Judah</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/23-6.htm">1 Samuel 23:6 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/23-6.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 23:6 It happened when Abiathar the son (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/23-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 23:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 23:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/23-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 23:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 23:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>