1 Samuel 22

David went from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard of it, they went down to him there. Everyone in distress, everyone in debt, and everyone bitter in soul gathered to him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. David went from there to Mizpah of Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” He brought them before the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold. The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David went and came to the forest of Hereth. Saul heard that David and the men with him had been discovered. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk on the height, with his spear in his hand and all his servants standing around him. Saul said to his servants standing around him, “Listen, Benjaminites! Will the son of Jesse also give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why all of you have conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned for me or tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he does today.” Doeg the Edomite, who was standing over Saul’s servants, answered, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub. He inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” The king sent to summon Ahimelech son of Ahitub the priest and all his father’s house, the priests at Nob. They all came to the king. Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.” Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so that he might rise against me to lie in wait, as he does today.” Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, who obeys your orders and is honored in your house? Did I begin to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! Let the king charge nothing against his servant or any of my father’s house, for your servant knew nothing of all this, small or great.” The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.” The king said to the guards standing around him, “Turn and put the priests of the LORD to death, for their hand too is with David. They knew he was fleeing and did not tell me.” But the king’s servants were unwilling to put out their hands to strike the priests of the LORD. The king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests. That day he put to death eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. He also struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword: men and women, children and nursing infants, and oxen, donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword. But one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 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 everyone in your father’s house. Stay with me; do not be afraid. He who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you will be protected.”

Rights and attribution