Bible Strands
1 Samuel 23:6
(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — A narrative aside records Abiathar’s arrival at Keilah immediately after David’s victory over the Philistines and just before Saul learns of David’s location.
The words — בְּרֹחַ (v.ro.ach) = “when he fled” and קְעִילָה (ke.'i.Lah) = “Keilah.”
The thread — This event links to Abiathar’s initial escape to David in 1 Samuel 22:20 and recalls the priestly garment mentioned in 1 Samuel 14:3.
Why it lands — The text notes the physical transfer of the ephod without explaining its function, requiring the reader to track its later use for divine inquiry rather than assuming its purpose from this mention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James 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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 22:20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
- 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.
- 1 Samuel 14:3 including Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. But the troops did not know that Jonathan had left.
- 1 Samuel 14:18 Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)
- 1 Samuel 14:36 And Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until dawn, leaving no man alive!” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. But the priest said, “We must consult God here.”