When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
Parallel translations
- WEB David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
- KJV And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
- NKJV When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
- NASB But David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
- NLT But David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask the Lord what he should do.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Aware of Saul's plot, David calls for the ephod to inquire of the LORD.
Overview
Discerning Saul's evil intent, David turns at once to Abiathar and the ephod to seek God's guidance. His instinct to inquire of the LORD in danger reveals a heart trained to trust divine wisdom. This dependence on God marks the contrast between David's faith and Saul's self-reliant scheming.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Sam 30:7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,
- 1 Sam 23:6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
- Num 27:21He 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.”
- 1 Sam 22:20But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
- Jer 33:3Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
- Acts 14:6they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,
- Acts 23:16–18But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
- Acts 9:24but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
- Jer 11:18–19And the LORD informed me, so I knew. Then You showed me their deeds.
- 1 Sam 14:18Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.)
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 23:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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