¹¹ Then David summoned Zadok^(A) and Abiathar^(B) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites.

³⁵ The king put Benaiah^(A) son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok^(B) the priest.

²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,^(A) named Abiathar,^(B) escaped and fled to join David.^{(C) 21} He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg^(D) the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. ²³ Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you^(E) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

¹⁶ Zadok^(A) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek^[a](B) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;

²⁶ To Abiathar^(A) the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth.^(B) You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark^(C) of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.”^(D)

²⁵ Sheva was secretary; Zadok^(A) and Abiathar were priests;

³⁵ Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.^(A)

²⁴ Zadok^(A) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark^(B) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar^(C) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

²⁵ Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place^(D) again. ²⁶ But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.^(E)”

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?^(F) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.^(G) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. ²⁸ I will wait at the fords^(H) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.