David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod.
The willingness of the people of Keilah to hand their savior over to Saul demonstrates base ingratitude for David’s deliverance of them. It also reveals how fearful they were of Saul who had recently destroyed another town, Nob, for harboring David (1 Samuel 22:19).