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1 Samuel 23:9

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 23:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
1 Samuel 23:9 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And 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.
7And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9And David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10Then said David, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thy servant hath surely heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Jehovah, the God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And Jehovah said, He will come down.
12Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver up to me and my men into the hand of Saul? And Jehovah said, They will deliver thee up.
← 1 Samuel 23:81 Samuel 23:10 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And. David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him, etc.] That is, plotted and contrived it, formed schemes in order to do him mischief, giving out one thing, and designing another; so he pretended war against the Philistines, but his intention was to come against Keilah, and take David there: and he said to Abiathar the priest, bring hither the ephod; not for David to put on, but for the priest himself, that being clothed with it, and the Urim and Thummim in it, he might inquire for him of the Lord.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod--The consultation was made, and the prayer uttered, by means of the priest. The alternative conditions here described have often been referred to as illustrating the doctrine of God's foreknowledge and preordination of events.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“David: Jer 11:18, Jer 11:19; Act 9:24, Act 14:6, Act 23:16-18 Bring: Sa1 23:6, Sa1 14:18, Sa1 30:7; Num 27:21; Jer 33:3 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 23:10”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification