1 Samuel 22:6-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree(A) 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?(B) 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.(C) None of you cares about me(D) 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,(E) who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.(F) 10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him(G) and gave him provisions.(H) He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”(I)
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,(J) 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.”(K)
14 Ahimelech replied to the king: “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David?(L) 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?(M) 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(N) 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(O) who wore linen ephods.(P) 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.(Q)
20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar,(R) and he fled to David.(S) 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(T) 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.(U) You will be safe with me.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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 22:6-23
Common English Bible
Saul kills the priests of Nob
6 Saul learned that David and his soldiers had been located. Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, spear in hand, with all his servants waiting on him. 7 He said to them, “Listen up, Benjaminites! Will Jesse’s son give fields and vineyards to each and every one of you? Will he make each one of you commanders of units of one thousand men or commanders of units of one hundred? 8 Is that why all of you have conspired against me? No one informed me when my son made a covenant with Jesse’s son! Not one of you is concerned about me or informs me when my own son sets my servant against me in an ambush—but that’s what has happened today!”
9 Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s servants, responded, “I saw Jesse’s son go to Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, at Nob. 10 Ahimelech questioned the Lord for David, and gave him provisions as well as the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 The king then sent for the priest Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, and all his extended family, who were the priests at Nob. All of them came to the king.
12 “Listen here, son of Ahitub,” Saul said.
“Yes sir,” he replied.
13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me—you with Jesse’s son—giving him food and a sword and questioning God for him so that he is now against me, waiting in ambush, which is what has happened today?”
14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Out of all your servants, who is as trustworthy as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, does whatever you ask, and is well respected in your house. 15 Was that the first time I questioned God for him? Of course not! But please, the king shouldn’t accuse me, his servant, or anyone in my father’s household of any wrongdoing, because your servant knew nothing whatsoever about this matter.”
16 But the king said, “You will be executed, Ahimelech—you and all of your father’s household!”
17 The king ordered the guards waiting on him: “Go ahead and kill the Lord’s priests because they’ve joined up with David too. They knew he was on the run but didn’t inform me.”
But the king’s servants were unwilling to lift a hand to attack the Lord’s priests.
18 The king then ordered Doeg, “Doeg! You go attack the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite went and attacked the priests, killing eighty-five men who wore the linen priestly vest[a] that day. 19 He put the whole priestly city of Nob to the sword: men and women, children and infants, even oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. 21 Abiathar reported to David that Saul had slaughtered the Lord’s priests.
22 David told Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew that he would tell Saul everything. I am to blame[b] for the deaths in your father’s family. 23 Stay with me, and don’t be afraid. The one who seeks my life now seeks yours too. But you’ll be safe with me.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 22:18 Heb ephod
- 1 Samuel 22:22 LXX, Vulg; Heb uncertain
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