David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered round him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, ‘Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?’ So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

But the prophet Gad said to David, ‘Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.’ So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Saul kills the priests of Nob

Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. He said to them, ‘Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.’

But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, ‘I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelek enquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.’

11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, ‘Listen now, son of Ahitub.’

‘Yes, my lord,’ he answered.

13 Saul said to him, ‘Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and enquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?’

14 Ahimelek answered the king, ‘Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I enquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.’

16 But the king said, ‘You shall surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.’

17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: ‘Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.’

But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

18 The king then ordered Doeg, ‘You turn and strike down the priests.’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, ‘That day, when Doeg 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 is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.’

大卫匿于亚杜兰洞

22 大卫就离开那里,逃到亚杜兰洞。他的弟兄和他父亲的全家听见了,就都下到他那里。 凡受窘迫的,欠债的,心里苦恼的,都聚集到大卫那里。大卫就做他们的头目,跟随他的约有四百人。

大卫从那里往摩押米斯巴去,对摩押王说:“求你容我父母搬来,住在你们这里,等我知道神要为我怎样行。” 大卫领他父母到摩押王面前。大卫山寨多少日子,他父母也住摩押王那里多少日子。 先知迦得大卫说:“你不要住在山寨,要往犹大地去。”大卫就离开那里,进入哈列的树林。

扫罗责臣不忠于己

扫罗基比亚拉玛,坐在垂丝柳树下,手里拿着枪,众臣仆侍立在左右。扫罗听见大卫和跟随他的人在何处, 就对左右侍立的臣仆说:“便雅悯人哪,你们要听我的话!耶西的儿子能将田地和葡萄园赐给你们各人吗?能立你们各人做千夫长百夫长吗? 你们竟都结党害我。我的儿子与耶西的儿子结盟的时候,无人告诉我。我的儿子挑唆我的臣子谋害我,就如今日的光景,也无人告诉我,为我忧虑。” 那时以东多益站在扫罗的臣仆中,对他说:“我曾看见耶西的儿子到了挪伯亚希突的儿子亚希米勒那里。 10 亚希米勒为他求问耶和华,又给他食物,并给他杀非利士歌利亚的刀。”

多益残杀挪伯诸祭司

11 王就打发人将祭司亚希突的儿子亚希米勒和他父亲的全家,就是住挪伯的祭司都召了来,他们就来见王。 12 扫罗说:“亚希突的儿子,要听我的话!”他回答说:“主啊,我在这里。” 13 扫罗对他说:“你为什么与耶西的儿子结党害我,将食物和刀给他,又为他求问神,使他起来谋害我,就如今日的光景?” 14 亚希米勒回答王说:“王的臣仆中有谁比大卫忠心呢?他是王的女婿,又是王的参谋,并且在王家中是尊贵的。 15 我岂是从今日才为他求问神呢?断不是这样。王不要将罪归我和我父的全家,因为这事无论大小,仆人都不知道。” 16 王说:“亚希米勒啊,你和你父的全家都是该死的!” 17 王就吩咐左右的侍卫说:“你们去杀耶和华的祭司,因为他们帮助大卫,又知道大卫逃跑,竟没有告诉我。”扫罗的臣子却不肯伸手杀耶和华的祭司。 18 王吩咐多益说:“你去杀祭司吧!”以东多益就去杀祭司,那日杀了穿细麻布以弗得的八十五人。 19 又用刀将祭司城挪伯中的男女、孩童、吃奶的,和牛、羊、驴尽都杀灭。

亚比亚他逃归大卫

20 亚希突的儿子亚希米勒有一个儿子,名叫亚比亚他,逃到大卫那里。 21 亚比亚他扫罗杀耶和华祭司的事告诉大卫 22 大卫亚比亚他说:“那日我见以东多益在那里,就知道他必告诉扫罗。你父的全家丧命,都是因我的缘故。 23 你可以住在我这里,不要惧怕,因为寻索你命的就是寻索我的命。你在我这里可得保全。”

David’s Four Hundred Men(A)

22 David therefore departed from there and (B)escaped (C)to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. (D)And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was [a]discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about (E)four hundred men with him.

Then David went from there to Mizpah of (F)Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.

Now the prophet (G)Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

Saul Murders the Priests

When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered—now Saul was staying in (H)Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him— then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse (I)give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that (J)my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.”

Then answered (K)Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to (L)Ahimelech the son of (M)Ahitub. 10 (N)And he inquired of the Lord for him, (O)gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 So the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub!”

He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”

13 Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?”

14 So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as (P)faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? 15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.”

16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all (Q)your father’s house!” 17 Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king (R)would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and [b]struck the priests, and (S)killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 19 (T)Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword.

20 (U)Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, (V)escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. 22 So David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s [c]house. 23 Stay with me; do not fear. (W)For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 22:2 Lit. bitter of soul
  2. 1 Samuel 22:18 attacked
  3. 1 Samuel 22:22 family

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave(A) of Adullam.(B) When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered(C) around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Moab,(D) and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

But the prophet Gad(E) said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.(F)

Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated,(G) spear in hand, under the tamarisk(H) tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders(I) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired(J) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant(K) with the son of Jesse.(L) None of you is concerned(M) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

But Doeg(N) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub(O) at Nob.(P) 10 Ahimelek inquired(Q) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions(R) and the sword(S) of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired(T) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who(U) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.(V)

17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling(W) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”(X) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.(Y) 19 He also put to the sword(Z) Nob,(AA) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,(AB) named Abiathar,(AC) escaped and fled to join David.(AD) 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg(AE) 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(AF) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered round him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, ‘Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?’ So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

But the prophet Gad said to David, ‘Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.’ So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Saul kills the priests of Nob

Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. He said to them, ‘Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.’

But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, ‘I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelek enquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.’

11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, ‘Listen now, son of Ahitub.’

‘Yes, my lord,’ he answered.

13 Saul said to him, ‘Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and enquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?’

14 Ahimelek answered the king, ‘Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I enquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.’

16 But the king said, ‘You shall surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.’

17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: ‘Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.’

But the king’s officials were unwilling to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

18 The king then ordered Doeg, ‘You turn and strike down the priests.’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, ‘That day, when Doeg 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 is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.’

大卫匿于亚杜兰洞

22 大卫就离开那里,逃到亚杜兰洞。他的弟兄和他父亲的全家听见了,就都下到他那里。 凡受窘迫的,欠债的,心里苦恼的,都聚集到大卫那里。大卫就做他们的头目,跟随他的约有四百人。

大卫从那里往摩押米斯巴去,对摩押王说:“求你容我父母搬来,住在你们这里,等我知道神要为我怎样行。” 大卫领他父母到摩押王面前。大卫山寨多少日子,他父母也住摩押王那里多少日子。 先知迦得大卫说:“你不要住在山寨,要往犹大地去。”大卫就离开那里,进入哈列的树林。

扫罗责臣不忠于己

扫罗基比亚拉玛,坐在垂丝柳树下,手里拿着枪,众臣仆侍立在左右。扫罗听见大卫和跟随他的人在何处, 就对左右侍立的臣仆说:“便雅悯人哪,你们要听我的话!耶西的儿子能将田地和葡萄园赐给你们各人吗?能立你们各人做千夫长百夫长吗? 你们竟都结党害我。我的儿子与耶西的儿子结盟的时候,无人告诉我。我的儿子挑唆我的臣子谋害我,就如今日的光景,也无人告诉我,为我忧虑。” 那时以东多益站在扫罗的臣仆中,对他说:“我曾看见耶西的儿子到了挪伯亚希突的儿子亚希米勒那里。 10 亚希米勒为他求问耶和华,又给他食物,并给他杀非利士歌利亚的刀。”

多益残杀挪伯诸祭司

11 王就打发人将祭司亚希突的儿子亚希米勒和他父亲的全家,就是住挪伯的祭司都召了来,他们就来见王。 12 扫罗说:“亚希突的儿子,要听我的话!”他回答说:“主啊,我在这里。” 13 扫罗对他说:“你为什么与耶西的儿子结党害我,将食物和刀给他,又为他求问神,使他起来谋害我,就如今日的光景?” 14 亚希米勒回答王说:“王的臣仆中有谁比大卫忠心呢?他是王的女婿,又是王的参谋,并且在王家中是尊贵的。 15 我岂是从今日才为他求问神呢?断不是这样。王不要将罪归我和我父的全家,因为这事无论大小,仆人都不知道。” 16 王说:“亚希米勒啊,你和你父的全家都是该死的!” 17 王就吩咐左右的侍卫说:“你们去杀耶和华的祭司,因为他们帮助大卫,又知道大卫逃跑,竟没有告诉我。”扫罗的臣子却不肯伸手杀耶和华的祭司。 18 王吩咐多益说:“你去杀祭司吧!”以东多益就去杀祭司,那日杀了穿细麻布以弗得的八十五人。 19 又用刀将祭司城挪伯中的男女、孩童、吃奶的,和牛、羊、驴尽都杀灭。

亚比亚他逃归大卫

20 亚希突的儿子亚希米勒有一个儿子,名叫亚比亚他,逃到大卫那里。 21 亚比亚他扫罗杀耶和华祭司的事告诉大卫 22 大卫亚比亚他说:“那日我见以东多益在那里,就知道他必告诉扫罗。你父的全家丧命,都是因我的缘故。 23 你可以住在我这里,不要惧怕,因为寻索你命的就是寻索我的命。你在我这里可得保全。”

David’s Four Hundred Men(A)

22 David therefore departed from there and (B)escaped (C)to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. (D)And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was [a]discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about (E)four hundred men with him.

Then David went from there to Mizpah of (F)Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.

Now the prophet (G)Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

Saul Murders the Priests

When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered—now Saul was staying in (H)Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him— then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse (I)give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that (J)my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.”

Then answered (K)Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to (L)Ahimelech the son of (M)Ahitub. 10 (N)And he inquired of the Lord for him, (O)gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 So the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub!”

He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”

13 Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?”

14 So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as (P)faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? 15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.”

16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all (Q)your father’s house!” 17 Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king (R)would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and [b]struck the priests, and (S)killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 19 (T)Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword.

20 (U)Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, (V)escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. 22 So David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s [c]house. 23 Stay with me; do not fear. (W)For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 22:2 Lit. bitter of soul
  2. 1 Samuel 22:18 attacked
  3. 1 Samuel 22:22 family

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave(A) of Adullam.(B) When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered(C) around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Moab,(D) and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

But the prophet Gad(E) said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.(F)

Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated,(G) spear in hand, under the tamarisk(H) tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders(I) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired(J) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant(K) with the son of Jesse.(L) None of you is concerned(M) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

But Doeg(N) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub(O) at Nob.(P) 10 Ahimelek inquired(Q) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions(R) and the sword(S) of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired(T) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who(U) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.(V)

17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling(W) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”(X) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.(Y) 19 He also put to the sword(Z) Nob,(AA) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,(AB) named Abiathar,(AC) escaped and fled to join David.(AD) 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg(AE) 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(AF) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”