David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
Saul hears David has relieved Keilah from the Philistines and makes it an occasion for murder instead of honor, an ungrateful wretch who rewarded good with evil. He blasphemes by dragging God's name into his malice, as if Providence blessed his wickedness, and conscripts all Israel to serve his spite.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Samuel 23:7-13
And. David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him,.... 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...
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.