1 Samuel 22
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Saul’s Increasing Paranoia
22 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam.(A) When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. 2 In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him.(B)
3 From 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.” 4 So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
5 Then the prophet Gad(C) said 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.
6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree(D) at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. 7 Saul 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?(E) 8 That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me[a] when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son.(F) None of you cares about me(G) or tells me[b] that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”
9 Then Doeg the Edomite,(H) who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.(I) 10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him(J) and gave him provisions.(K) He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”(L)
Slaughter of the Priests
11 The 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. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”
“I’m at your service,(M) my lord,” he said.
13 Saul 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.”(N)
14 Ahimelech replied to the king: “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David?(O) He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was today the first time I inquired of God for him?(P) Of 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[c] about all this.”
16 But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech—you and your father’s whole family!”
17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord(Q) because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.”[d] But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.
18 So 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(R) who wore linen ephods.(S) 19 He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword—both men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.(T)
20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar,(U) and he fled to David.(V) 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite(W) was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for[e] the lives of everyone in your father’s family. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life.(X) You will be safe with me.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 22:8 Lit No one uncovers my ear
- 1 Samuel 22:8 Lit or uncovers my ear
- 1 Samuel 22:15 Lit didn’t know a thing, small or large
- 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit didn’t uncover my ear
- 1 Samuel 22:22 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads I myself turn in
1 Samuel 22
International Standard Version
David at the Cave of Adullam
22 David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father’s family heard about this and went down to him there. 2 Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent[a] gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him.
David Seeks Protection for His Family
3 David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you[b] until I know what God is going to do for me.” 4 David left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold.
5 The prophet Gad told David, “Don’t remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the territory of Judah.” So David left and went into the forest of Hereth.
Doeg the Edomite Reports to Saul
6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been found,[c] he[d] was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the hill, with his spear in his hand. All his officials[e] were standing around him. 7 Saul told his officials who were standing around him, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son also give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you officers over thousands and officers over hundreds? 8 But all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me[f] about my son’s covenant[g] with Jesse’s son. None of you feels sorry for me and tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he’s doing[h] this day.”
9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s servants answered: “I saw Jesse’s son coming to Nob to Ahitub’s son Ahimelech. 10 Ahimelech[i] inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
Saul Orders the Execution of the Priests
11 The king sent for Ahitub’s son Ahimelech the priest and for all his father’s family who were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”
And he said, “Here I am, your majesty.”
13 Then Saul[j] asked him, “Why have you conspired against me—you and Jesse’s son—by giving him food and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so he can rise up against me to lie in wait, as he’s doing[k] today?”
14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your officials[l] is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard, and he’s honored in your household. 15 Is today the first time I inquired of God for him? Absolutely not! The king shouldn’t accuse his servant, or any of my father’s family of anything, because your servant didn’t know anything at all[m] about this.”
16 The king said, “Ahimelech, you will surely die, you and all your father’s family!” 17 The king told the guards, who were standing beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they supported David,[n] and because they knew he was fleeing, but didn’t inform me.”[o] But the officials of the king did not want to lift their hands[p] to attack the priests of the Lord.
18 Then the king told Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who carry the linen ephod.[q] 19 He attacked the priestly town of Nob with the sword. Men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys and sheep were put to the sword.
Abiathar Takes the Ephod to David
20 One man, Ahimelech’s son Abiathar, a grandson of Ahitub, escaped and fled to David. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 David told Abiathar, “I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I’m responsible for the deaths of your father’s whole family. 23 Stay with me, and don’t be afraid because the one who seeks my life, seeks your life. Indeed, you will be safe with me.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 22:2 Lit. bitter of spirit
- 1 Samuel 22:3 Lit. come with you
- 1 Samuel 22:6 Lit. were known
- 1 Samuel 22:6 Lit. Saul
- 1 Samuel 22:6 Or servants
- 1 Samuel 22:8 Lit. reveals in my ear
- 1 Samuel 22:8 Or agreement
- 1 Samuel 22:8 The Heb. lacks he is doing
- 1 Samuel 22:10 Lit. He
- 1 Samuel 22:13 Lit. he
- 1 Samuel 22:13 The Heb. lacks he is doing
- 1 Samuel 22:14 Or servants
- 1 Samuel 22:15 Lit. anything, great or small
- 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit. their hand was with David
- 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit. reveal in my ear
- 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit. to send their hand
- 1 Samuel 22:18 I.e. the priests
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