1 Samuel 22:9–19

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