שמואל א, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ח׳

A broad military mobilization can sometimes serve as a clever disguise, allowing a leader to use the threat of a foreign enemy to settle a domestic conflict. A massive call to arms was initiated, using heralds and trumpet blasts to assemble the nation's fighters [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The strategic goal was to surround and pressure the city with a siege until it was conquered [מצודת ציון]. However, Saul was acting with deep deception. He declared a general draft to march on the city of Keilah, but he deliberately hid the true identity of the target from his own army. He wanted his troops to believe they were marching out to battle the Philistines, while his actual, hidden objective was to capture David and his men [מלבי״ם].

Hearing the rumors of this advancing army, David sought guidance from God using the Urim and Thummim. He asked whether Saul would indeed arrive and if the citizens of Keilah would betray him. God answered yes to both questions. Yet, this creates a profound theological question: since David ultimately fled, Saul never arrived, and the townspeople never handed David over, how could God's answer fail to materialize?

Two complementary explanations resolve this issue [אברבנאל]. First, Divine foreknowledge does not erase human free will. God outlined the expected chain of events, but David used his freedom to escape, thereby changing the outcome. The second and primary explanation is that David was not asking God to predict the future. Instead, he was asking about the current intentions of the people involved. God revealed the truth of that exact moment: Saul fully intended to march on the city, and the residents of Keilah were entirely willing to betray David. Armed with the clear reality of their true desires, David slipped away. The events were avoided not because God's knowledge was flawed, but because David successfully acted upon the reality revealed to him.