1 Samuel 23:6 (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

◄ 1 Samuel 23:6 ►

New International Version
(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

New Living Translation
Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him.

English Standard Version
When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand.

Berean Standard Bible
(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

Amplified Bible
When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.

Christian Standard Bible
Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.

American Standard Version
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.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Ahimelech's son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod with him.

Good News Translation
When Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped and joined David in Keilah, he took the ephod with him.

International Standard Version
Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him.

Majority Standard Bible
(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

NET Bible
Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, in the fleeing of Abiathar son of Ahimelech to David, to Keilah, an ephod came down in his hand.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, in the fleeing of Abiathar son of Ahimelech unto David, to Keilah, an ephod came down in his hand.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be in the fleeing of Abiathar son of Ahimelech, to David to Keilah, he brought down an ephod in his hand.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now at that time, when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David to Ceila, he came down having an ephod with him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
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.

New American Bible
Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, who had fled to David, went down with David to Keilah, taking the ephod with him.

New Revised Standard Version
When Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when Abiathar son of Akhimelek fled to David to Qayla, an ephod came down in his hand

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

David Delivers Keilah
…5Then 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. 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 28:30
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.

Numbers 27:21
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.”

Judges 20:18
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.

1 Samuel 14:18-19
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.”

1 Samuel 30:7-8
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.”

2 Samuel 2:1
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.

2 Samuel 5:19
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.”

2 Samuel 21:1
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.”

1 Kings 2:26
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.”

1 Kings 3:4-5
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!”

1 Chronicles 13:3
Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.”

1 Chronicles 15:11-13
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.”

1 Chronicles 21:29-30
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.

2 Chronicles 1:5-6
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.

Nehemiah 7:65
The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

Treasury of Scripture

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.

when Abiathar

1 Samuel 22:20
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

an ephod

1 Samuel 14:3,18,36,37
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…

Exodus 28:30,31
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…

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Abiathar Abi'athar Ahimelech Ahim'elech David Ephod Hand Keilah Kei'lah

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Abiathar Abi'athar Ahimelech Ahim'elech David Ephod Hand Keilah Kei'lah

1 Samuel 23

1. David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah
7. God showing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites,
13. he escapes from Keilah
14. In Ziph Jonathan comes and comforts him
19. The Ziphites discover him to Saul
25. At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines
29. He dwells at En Gedi

Berean Study Bible

Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech
Abiathar, whose name means "father of abundance" or "my father excels," is a significant figure in the narrative of David's rise to kingship. As the son of Ahimelech, the high priest who was tragically killed by King Saul, Abiathar represents the continuation of the priestly line. His survival and subsequent alliance with David underscore God's providential care and the preservation of the priesthood amidst Saul's destructive reign. Historically, Abiathar's presence with David signifies a divine endorsement of David's leadership, as the priestly line aligns with the anointed future king.

had brought the ephod with him
The ephod, a sacred priestly garment, was used for seeking God's guidance, particularly through the Urim and Thummim, which were possibly contained within it. In the Hebrew context, the ephod symbolizes divine communication and the presence of God among His people. Abiathar bringing the ephod to David is not merely a logistical detail but a profound theological statement: God's guidance and favor are now with David. This act also highlights the shift of spiritual authority from Saul to David, as the ephod's presence with David allows him to seek God's will directly.

when he fled to David at Keilah
Keilah, a fortified city in Judah, becomes a place of refuge and strategic importance in David's journey. Abiathar's flight to David at Keilah is emblematic of the broader theme of seeking refuge in God's anointed. Historically, Keilah's mention situates the narrative in a real geographical context, emphasizing the tangible struggles and decisions David faced. Spiritually, Abiathar's flight to David signifies a turning point where the priestly line, represented by Abiathar, acknowledges David's divine appointment and seeks safety under his protection. This act of fleeing to David is a testament to the faith and recognition of God's unfolding plan through David's leadership.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) With an ephod in his hand.--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 1Samuel 23:2.) Saul in happier days, we know, enquired and received replies "through prophets," 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, nor by prophets (1Samuel 28:6). 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 with David 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 1Samuel 23:2; 1Samuel 23:4 of this chapter.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - When Abiathar... fled to David to Koilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. 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 to Keilah - 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 1 Samuel 22:20 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 (1 Samuel 22:2), which seems to show that his hiding place had become generally known. It was probably this concourse of men to him that was "discovered," i.e. 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.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

(Now
וַיְהִ֗י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

Abiathar
אֶבְיָתָ֧ר (’eḇ·yā·ṯār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 54: Abiathar -- 'the great one is father', an Israelite priest

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ahimelech
אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ (’ă·ḥî·me·leḵ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 288: Ahimelech -- 'brother of a king', an Israelite name, also a Hittite name

had brought
יָרַ֥ד (yā·raḏ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

the ephod
אֵפ֖וֹד (’ê·p̄ō·wḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 646: A girdle, the ephod, highpriest's shoulder-piece, an image

with him
בְּיָדֽוֹ׃ (bə·yā·ḏōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

when he fled
בִּ֠בְרֹחַ (biḇ·rō·aḥ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

David
דָּוִ֖ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

at Keilah.)
קְעִילָ֑ה (qə·‘î·lāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7084: Keilah -- a city in Judah

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OT History: 1 Samuel 23:6 It happened when Abiathar the son (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)