1 Samuel 22

Saul’s Increasing Paranoia

22So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. ^wWhen David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. ²In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him. ^x

³From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” ⁴So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.

⁵Then the prophet Gad ^ysaid to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

⁶Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree ^zat the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. ⁷Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? ^a8That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me ^bwhen my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son. ^cNone of you cares about me ^dor tells me ^ethat my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”

⁹Then Doeg the Edomite, ^fwho was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. ^g10Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him ^hand gave him provisions. ⁱHe also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” ^j

Slaughter of the Priests

¹¹The king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. ¹²Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”

“I’m at your service, ^kmy lord,” he said.

¹³Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.” ^l

¹⁴Ahimelech replied to the king: “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? ^mHe is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. ¹⁵Was today the first time I inquired of God for him? ⁿOf course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant didn’t have any idea ^oabout all this.”

¹⁶But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech—you and your father’s whole family!”

¹⁷Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord ^pbecause they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” ^qBut the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.

¹⁸So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed 85 men ^rwho wore linen ephods. ^s19He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword—both men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. ^t

²⁰However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, ^uand he fled to David. ^v21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²²Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite ^wwas there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for ^xthe lives of everyone in your father’s family. ²³Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life. ^yYou will be safe with me.”