Therefore David inquired 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.
David inquired of the Lord - most probably through Gad, who was present in David's camp (1 Samuel 22:5), probably by the recommendation of Samuel. To repel unprovoked assaults on unoffending people, who were engaged in their harvest operations, was a humane and benevolent service. But it was doubtful how far it was David's duty to go against a public enemy without the royal commission; and on that account he asked and obtained the divine counsel. A demur on the part of his men led David to renew the consultation for their satisfaction; after which, being fully assured of his duty, he encountered the aggressors, and by a signal victory over the foraging party, delivered the people of Keilah from further molestation-probably remaining with his men in the city and neighbourhood until the crop in the fields had been secured.