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.”

⁷ Adonijah conferred with Joab^(A) son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar^(B) the priest, and they gave him their support.

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) 27} So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling^(E) the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

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

³⁴ Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.^(A)

Joab^(B) was the commander of the royal army.