Where is Keilah in the Bible?

What happened at Keilah?

Keilah was a town located in the Shephelah, or lowland region, of Judah (Joshua 15:44). During the time of King Saul, the Philistines attacked Keilah and robbed the threshing floors. David, who was fleeing from Saul at the time, inquired of the Lord and was directed to go and save Keilah (1Sa.23.1-5). David and his men successfully defended the town against the Philistines. However, when Saul heard that David was in Keilah, he planned to besiege the city and capture him. David again sought the Lord's guidance and learned that the people of Keilah would surrender him to Saul. As a result, David and his men left Keilah and continued to evade Saul (1Sa.23.7-13). Keilah is also mentioned in the genealogies of Judah (1Ch.4.19) and in the context of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls during the time of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:17-18). The exact location of Keilah is uncertain, but it is believed to be in the western foothills of Judah, possibly at the site of Khirbet Qila, about 8 miles northwest of Hebron.

Where does Keilah appear in the Bible?

Keilah is referenced in 14 verses across 4 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Chronicles 4:19
• 1 Samuel 23:1
• 1 Samuel 23:2
• 1 Samuel 23:3
• 1 Samuel 23:4
• 1 Samuel 23:5
• 1 Samuel 23:7
• 1 Samuel 23:8
• 1 Samuel 23:10
• 1 Samuel 23:11
• 1 Samuel 23:12
• 1 Samuel 23:13
• Joshua 15:44
• Nehemiah 3:18

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Keilah.