Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageWhen Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought an ephod with him.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GNow when Evyatar son of Achimelech fled to Dawid at Qeilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand.
KJV
King James VersionAnd 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.
BSB
Berean Standard Bible(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
Footnotes
The ephod here is almost certainly the high-priestly garment housing the Urim and Thummim — the sacred lot used for divine inquiry (cf. Ex. 28:30). Its mention is the narrator's key to unlock the oracular scenes that follow in vv. 9–12: Dawid does not presume upon God but consults Him through legitimate priestly means. The detail is placed retrospectively, as if the narrator pauses to say, "And this is why what follows was possible." FOG uses "Evyatar" and "Achimelech" for the Hebrew אֶבְיָתָר and אֲחִימֶלֶךְ; FOG Message uses the familiar English forms.