ASV

1 Samuel 22

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¹David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

²And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

³And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, [and be] with you, till I know what God will do for me.

⁴And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.

⁵And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the stronghold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.

⁶And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him: now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.

⁷And Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,

⁸that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that discloseth to me when my son maketh a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or discloseth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

⁹Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

¹⁰And he inquired of Jehovah for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

¹¹Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

¹²And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

¹³And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

¹⁴Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and is taken into thy council, and is honorable in thy house?

¹⁵Have I to-day begun to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute anything unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more.

¹⁶And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

¹⁷And the king said unto the guard that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of Jehovah; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of Jehovah.

¹⁸And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and he slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

¹⁹And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

²⁰And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

²¹And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Jehovah's priests.

²²And David said unto Abiathar, I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of thy father's house.

²³Abide thou with me, fear not; for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: for with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

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1 Samuel 22:1-5 Verses 1-5

See what weak instruments God sometimes uses, to bring about his own purposes. The Son of David is ready to receive distressed souls, who will be commanded by him. He receives all who come unto Him, however vile and miserable; he changes them into a holy people, and employs them in his service: those who would reign with him must be contented first to suffer with and for him. Observe with what tender concern David provided for his aged parents. The first thing he does is to find them a quiet habitation, whatever became of himself. Let children learn to honour their parents, in every thing consulting their ease and satisfaction. Though highly preferred, and much employed, let them not forget their aged parents. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And the Lord will preserve his people for their appointed work, however they may be hated and exposed.

1 Samuel 22:6-19 Verses 6-19

See the nature of jealous malice and its pitiful arts. Saul looks upon all about him as his enemies, because they do not just say as he says. In Ahimelech's answer to Saul we have the language of conscious innocence. But what wickedness will not the evil spirit hurry men to when he gets the dominion! Saul alleges that which was utterly false and unproved. But the most bloody tyrants have found instruments of their cruelty as barbarous as themselves. Doeg, having murdered the priests, went to the city, Nob, and put all to the sword there. Nothing so vile but those may do it, who have provoked God to give them up to their hearts' lusts. Yet this was the accomplishment of the threatenings against the house of Eli. Though Saul was unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting it. No word of God shall fall to the ground.

1 Samuel 22:20-23 Verses 20-23

David greatly lamented the calamity. It is great trouble to a good man to find himself any way the cause of evil to others. He must have been much pained, when he considered that his falsehood was one cause of this fatal event. David speaks with assurance of his own safety, and promises that Abiathar should have his protection. With the Son of David, all who are his may be sure they shall be in safeguard, Ps 91:1. In the hurry and distraction David was continually in, he found time for communion with God, and found comfort in it.

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Abiathar: Escapes to David from the Vengeance of Saul, Who Slew the Priests in the City of Nob 1 Samuel 22:6–19

Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him. / Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds? / Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

Abiathar: High Priest--Called Ahimelech: Consults the Ephod for David 1 Samuel 22:9–12

But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. / Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” / Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.

Abiathar: High Priest--Called Ahimelech: Son of Ahimelech 1 Samuel 22:20

But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.

Adullam: A Cave Near the Dead Sea: David Takes Refuge In 1 Samuel 22:1

So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

Ahijah: A Priest in Shiloh, Probably Identical with Ahimelech, Mentioned In 1 Samuel 22:11

Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.

Ahijah: A Priest in Shiloh, Probably Identical with Ahimelech, Mentioned in Killed 1 Samuel 22:11–19

Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king. / “Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied. / And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

Ahimelech: Also Called Ahia--A High Priest, During the Reign of David: Killed by the Command of Saul 1 Samuel 22:9–22

Ahitub: High Priest, Father of Ahiah 1 Samuel 22:9, 11, 12, 20

But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. / Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king. / “Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied.

Armies: March in Ranks: Composed of Insurgents 1 Samuel 22:1, 2

So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. / And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

Betrayal of David, by Doeg 1 Samuel 22:9, 10

Captain: Signifying Any Commander, As 1 Samuel 22:2

And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

Cave of Adullam 1 Samuel 22:1

So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

Caves: Adullam 1 Samuel 22:1

So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

Caves: Often Capacious 1 Samuel 22:1, 2

Children: David 1 Samuel 22:3, 4

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 learn what God will do for me.” / 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.

Conspiracy: Jonathan 1 Samuel 22:8

Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

Creditors were often Defrauded 1 Samuel 22:2

And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

David: King of Israel: Recruits an Army of Insurgents, Goes to Moab, Returns to Hareth 1 Samuel 22:1

So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

Deserts: The Disaffected Fled To 1 Samuel 22:2

And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

Doeg: Murdered Eighty-Five Priests 1 Samuel 22:18, 19

So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. / He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

Doubting: Exemplified 1 Samuel 22:3, 4

Ephod: A Sacred Vestment Worn by the High Priest: An Inferior, Was Worn by the Ordinary Priests 1 Samuel 22:18

So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

False Accusation: Incidents Illustrative of Against the Prophet Ahimelech by Saul 1 Samuel 22:11–16

Falsehood in Accusing Ahimelech of Conspiring with David Against Himself 1 Samuel 22:11–16

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Thousands (Micah 5:2), another name for "families" or "clans" (see Num.… Ahimelech Brother of the king, the son of Ahitub and father… Benjamin Son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of… Faithful As a designation of Christians, means full of faith, trustful,… Abiathar Father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of… Covenant A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old… Tamarisk Heb. eshel (Gen. 21:33; 1 Sam. 22:6; 31:13, in the… Adullam One of the royal cities of the Canaanites, now Aid-el-ma… Sitting The attitude generally assumed in Palestine by those who were… Prophet (Heb. nabi, from a root meaning "to bubble forth, as… Captain (1.) Heb. sar (1 Sam. 22:2; 2 Sam. 23:19). Rendered… Goliath Great. (1.) A famous giant of Gath, who for forty… Father A name applied (1) to any ancestor (Deut. 1:11; 1… Forest Heb. ya'ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus… Ahitub Brother of goodness = good. (1.) The son of Phinehas.… Priest The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one… Gibeah A hill or hill-town, "of Benjamin" (1 Sam. 13:15), better… Jesse Firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son…