And Saul called all the people together to war,.... Or "caused [them] to hear" m summoned them by an herald, whom he sent into all parts of the kingdom to proclaim war, and require them in his name to attend him; which was the prerogative of a king to do:
to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men; that was what he privately intended, but the pretence was to make war against the Philistines.
m ישמע "fecit audire", Montanus, Piscator.