^22:9But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with the servants of Saul, replied, “I saw this son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. ^22:10He inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

^22:11Then the king arranged for a meeting with the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priests of his father’s house who were at Nob. They all came to the king. ^22:12Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He replied, “Here I am, my lord.” ^22:13Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave¹⁰ him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes¹¹ me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!”

^22:14Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is faithful like David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the leader of your bodyguard, and honored in your house! ^22:15Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse¹² his servant or any of my father’s house. For your servant is not aware of all this—not in whole or in part!”¹³

^22:16But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house! ^22:17Then the king said to the messengers¹⁴ who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided¹⁵ with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm¹⁶ the priests of the Lord.

^22:18Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five¹⁷ men who wore the linen ephod. ^22:19As for Nob, the city of the priests, he struck down with the sword men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep—all with the sword.

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Footnotes

10 Heb “by giving.”
11 Heb “rises up against.”
12 Heb “set a matter against.”
13 Heb “small or great.”
14 Heb “runners.”
15 Heb “their hand is.”
16 Heb “to extend their hand to harm.”
17 The number is confused in the Greek tradition. The , with the exception of the Lucianic recension, has the number 305. The Lucianic recension, along with a couple of Old Latin , has the number 350.