What is "keilah"

Keilah ( Citadel) was a city in the lowlands of Judah . In 1 Samuel, David rescued it from the attack of the Philistines but the inhabitants proved unfaithful to him, in that they sought to deliver him up to Saul (23:12). He and his men "departed from Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go.” They fled first to Hareth Hill, about 3 miles to the east, and thence through Hebron to Ziph. "And David was in the wilderness of Ziph, in a wood" . Here Jonathan sought him out, "and strengthened his hand in God." This was the last interview between David and Jonathan .

Benjamin of Tudela identified Kâkôn ( Qaqun) as ancient Keilah in 1160. Others believe it to be modern Qila, northwest of Hebron. Still others identify it with Khuweilfeh, between Beit Jibrin ( Eleutheropolis) and Beersheba, mentioned in the Amarna tablets.