David Gathers Followers at Adullam
Study note
David escaped from Gath and hid in the cave of Adullam, about ten miles southeast of Gath. His family came to him there because they feared Saul might target them. Then about four hundred men gathered around David: people who were in trouble, in debt, or unhappy. David became their leader. He also took his parents to safety in Moab, where Ruth, David's great-grandmother, had come from. The prophet Gad told David to leave the stronghold and go to the forest of Hereth in Judah.
1 David left Gath and fled to a cave near Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his family heard where he was, they came down to join him. David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 People from all over who were in trouble, who owed debts, or who were fed up with life came to David, and he became their leader. About four hundred men gathered around him. And 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 a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3 From there, David went to Mizpah in Moab. He asked the king of Moab, "Would you please let my mother and father stay with you until I know what God has planned for me?" And 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.
4 So he left his parents in the care of the king of Moab. They stayed there the entire time David was hiding out in the stronghold. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5 But the prophet Gad came to David with a message: "Do not stay here in the stronghold. Go back to the land of Judah." David obeyed and moved to the forest of Hereth. And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
Doeg Reports to Saul
Study note
Meanwhile, Saul sat under a tamarisk tree on a hill in Gibeah, surrounded by his officials. He accused them of disloyalty, claiming none of them cared about him and that they were all plotting with David. Then Doeg the Edomite, who had witnessed David's visit to Nob, told Saul that the priest Ahimelech had given David bread, a sword, and had inquired of God for him.
6 Word reached Saul that David and his men had been spotted. Saul was sitting under a tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear, with all his officials standing around him. When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7 Saul addressed his officials, "Listen up, men of Benjamin. Do you think Jesse's son is going to give you fields and vineyards? Do you think he will make you commanders of thousands and hundreds?" Then 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, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8 "Is that why every one of you has plotted against me? Nobody tells me when my own son cuts a deal with Jesse's son. Nobody cares enough to warn me that my son has encouraged my servant to set up an ambush against me, which is exactly what is happening right now." That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9 Doeg the Edomite, who was standing among Saul's officials, spoke up. "I saw Jesse's son visit Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, at Nob." Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10 "Ahimelech asked God for direction on David's behalf. He also gave David food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine." And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Saul Confronts Ahimelech
Study note
Saul summoned Ahimelech and all the priests from Nob. He accused Ahimelech of conspiring with David against him. Ahimelech defended himself, pointing out that David was the king's most loyal servant, his son-in-law, and the commander of the king's bodyguard. Ahimelech said he had done nothing wrong and had no idea about any conflict between David and Saul. But Saul refused to listen and sentenced Ahimelech and his entire family to death.
11 The king immediately sent for Ahimelech the priest and his entire family of priests who served at Nob. They all came before the king. Then 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.
12 Saul said, "Now listen carefully, son of Ahitub." Ahimelech replied, "Yes, my lord." And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13 Saul accused him, "Why have you and Jesse's son been conspiring against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You consulted God for him. And now he has risen up against me, lying in wait to ambush me." And 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?
14 Ahimelech stood up for himself before the king. He said, "Among all your servants, who is more loyal than David? He is your own son-in-law and the captain of your bodyguard. He is one of the most respected people in your whole household." Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
15 "Was that the first time I ever prayed to God on his behalf? Of course not! Please, the king should not accuse me or anyone in my family of wrongdoing. I, your servant, knew nothing about any of this." Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
16 But the king pronounced the sentence: "You will die, Ahimelech. You and your entire family." And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
The Massacre of the Priests
Study note
Saul ordered his guards to kill the priests of the Lord, but they refused. So Saul ordered Doeg the Edomite to do it, and Doeg killed eighty-five priests that day. He then went to Nob and destroyed the entire priestly city: men, women, children, babies, and livestock. This horrific act fulfilled the prophecy against Eli's family. Only Abiathar, one of Ahimelech's sons, escaped and fled to David. David felt responsible because he had seen Doeg at Nob and knew he would tell Saul. David promised to protect Abiathar.
17 Saul ordered his bodyguards, "Kill the priests of the Lord! They sided with David. They knew he was running from me and never said a word." But the king's guards refused to lift a hand against the Lord's priests. And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
18 So the king turned to Doeg and said, "You do it. Kill the priests." Doeg the Edomite stepped forward and attacked the priests himself. That day he murdered eighty-five men who wore the priestly linen ephod. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
19 Doeg then went to Nob, the town of the priests, and slaughtered everyone there: men, women, children, and babies. He even killed the cattle, donkeys, and sheep. And 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.
20 Only one person escaped: Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech. He fled and ran to join David. And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
21 Abiathar broke the news to David that Saul had massacred the Lord's priests. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
22 David said to Abiathar, "I knew it. That day when I saw Doeg the Edomite there, I knew he would tell Saul everything. This is my fault. I am responsible for the death of every person in your family." And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it 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.
23 "Stay with me. Don't be afraid. The same man who is trying to kill you is trying to kill me too. You are safe as long as you are with me." Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.