Keilah

Keilah is a settlement named in 15 verses of the Bible. It is most likely identified with Khirbet Qila (high confidence).

Location

Where scholars place it, most confident first. Confidence is OpenBible.info's score from the sources it surveys; it is not this site's judgment.

Verses

Joshua

• Joshua 15:44
  And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.

1 Samuel

• 1 Samuel 23:1
  Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”
• 1 Samuel 23:2
  Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
• 1 Samuel 23:3
  And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
• 1 Samuel 23:4
  Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
• 1 Samuel 23:5
  So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah.
• 1 Samuel 23:6
  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.(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
• 1 Samuel 23:7
  And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
• 1 Samuel 23:8
  And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
• 1 Samuel 23:10
  Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.
• 1 Samuel 23:11
  Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.
• 1 Samuel 23:12
  Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up.So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.
• 1 Samuel 23:13
  Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.

Nehemiah

• Nehemiah 3:17
  After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.Next to him, the Levites made repairs under Rehum son of Bani, and next to him, Hashabiah, ruler of a half-district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
• Nehemiah 3:18
  After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.Next to him, their countrymen made repairs under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah.

Notes

1. Locations from the OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
2. Verses are those where at least one of ten English translations names this place, per OpenBible.info.