1. And they informed Dawiḏ, saying, “See, the Philistines are fighting against Qe‛ilah, and they are plundering the threshing-floors.”
2. So Dawiḏ inquired of יהוה, saying, “Shall I go and smite these Philistines?” And יהוה said to Dawiḏ, “Go and smite the Philistines, and save Qe‛ilah.”
3. And Dawiḏ’s men said to him, “See, we here in Yehuḏah are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Qe‛ilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4. And Dawiḏ inquired of יהוה once again. And יהוה answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Qe‛ilah, for I am giving the Philistines into your hand.”
5. So Dawiḏ and his men went to Qe‛ilah and fought with the Philistines, and he led away their livestock and smote them, a great smiting. Thus Dawiḏ saved the inhabitants of Qe‛ilah.
6. And it came to be, when Eḇyathar son of Aḥimeleḵ fled to Dawiḏ at Qe‛ilah, that he went down with a shoulder garment in his hand.
7. And Sha’ul was informed that Dawiḏ had gone to Qe‛ilah. Then Sha’ul said, “Elohim has estranged him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”
8. And Sha’ul summoned all the people to battle, to go down to Qe‛ilah to besiege Dawiḏ and his men.