1 Kings 22
22
1David therefore went from thence and fled to the cave of Odollam. And when his brethren and all his father's house had heard of it they went down to him thither.
2And all that were in distress and oppressed with debt, and under affliction of mind gathered themselves unto him. And he became their prince. And there were with him about four hundred men.
3And David departed from thence into Maspha of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab: Let my father and my mother tarry with you, I beseech thee, till I know what God will do for me.
4And he left them under the eyes of the king of Moab: and they abode with him all the days that David was in the hold.
5And Gad the prophet said to David: Abide not in the hold. Depart, and go into the land of Juda. And David departed, and came into the forest of Haret.
6And Saul heard that David was seen, and the men that were with him. Now whilst Saul abode in Gabaa, and was in the wood, which is by Rama, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him,
7He said to his servants that stood about him: Hear me now, ye sons of Jemini: Will the son of Isai give everyone of you fields, and vineyards, and make you all tribunes, and centurions:
8That all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one to inform me, especially when even my son hath entered into league with the son of Isai? There is not one of you that pitieth my case, nor that giveth me any information: because my son hath raised up my servant against me, plotting against me to this day.
9And Doeg the Edomite who stood by, and was the chief among the servants of Saul, answering, said: I saw the son of Isai, in Nobe, with Achimelech the son of Achitob the priest.
10And he consulted the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11Then the king sent to call for Achimelech the priest the son of Achitob, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nobe; and they came all of them to the king.
12And Saul said to Achimelech: Hear, thou son of Achitob. He answered: Here I am, my lord.
13And Saul said to him: Why have you conspired against me, thou, and the son of Isai. And thou hast given him bread and a sword, and hast consulted the Lord for him, that he should rise up against me, continuing a traitor to this day.
14And Achimelech answering the king said: And who amongst all thy servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and goeth forth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thy house?
15Did I begin to-day to consult the Lord for him? Far be this from me. Let not the king suspect such a thing against his servant, or any one in all my father's house: for thy servant knew nothing of this matter, either little or great.
16And the king said: Dying, thou shalt die, Achimelech. Thou and all thy father's house.
17And the king said to the messengers that stood about him: Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord. For their hand is with David: because they knew that he was fled; and they told it not to me. And the king's servants would not put forth their hands against the priests of the Lord.
18And the king said to Doeg: Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and fell upon the priests, and slew in that day eighty-five men that wore the linen ephod.
19And Nobe the city of the priests he smote with the edge of his sword, both men and women, children, and sucklings, and ox and ass, and sheep with the edge of the sword.
20But one of the sons of Achimelech the son of Achitob, whose name was Abiathar, escaped, and fled to David,
21And told him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord.
22And David said to Abiathar: I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that without doubt he would tell Saul. I have been the occasion of the death of all the souls of thy father's house.
23Abide thou with me. Fear not: for he that seeketh my life, seeketh thy life also; and with me thou shalt be saved.
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1 Kings 22: DRC1752
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
1 Samuel 22
22
Saul Murders the Priests of God
1-2So David got away and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. When his brothers and others associated with his family heard where he was, they came down and joined him. Not only that, but all who were down on their luck came around—losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader. There were about four hundred in all.
3-4Then David went to Mizpah in Moab. He petitioned the king of Moab, “Grant asylum to my father and mother until I find out what God has planned for me.” David left his parents in the care of the king of Moab. They stayed there all through the time David was hiding out.
5The prophet Gad told David, “Don’t go back to the cave. Go to Judah.” David did what he told him. He went to the forest of Hereth.
6-8Saul got word of the whereabouts of David and his men. He was sitting under the big oak on the hill at Gibeah at the time, spear in hand, holding court surrounded by his officials. He said, “Listen here, you Benjaminites! Don’t think for a minute that you have any future with the son of Jesse! Do you think he’s going to hand over choice land, give you all influential jobs? Think again. Here you are, conspiring against me, whispering behind my back—not one of you is man enough to tell me that my own son is making deals with the son of Jesse, not one of you who cares enough to tell me that my son has taken the side of this, this ...outlaw!”
9-10Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, spoke up: “I saw the son of Jesse meet with Ahimelech son of Ahitub, in Nob. I saw Ahimelech pray with him for God’s guidance, give him food, and arm him with the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11Saul sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub, along with the whole family of priests at Nob. They all came to the king.
12Saul said, “You listen to me, son of Ahitub!”
“Certainly, master,” he said.
13“Why have you ganged up against me with the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword, even praying with him for God’s guidance, setting him up as an outlaw, out to get me?”
14-15Ahimelech answered the king, “There’s not an official in your administration as true to you as David, your own son-in-law and captain of your bodyguard. None more honorable either. Do you think that was the first time I prayed with him for God’s guidance? Hardly! But don’t accuse me of any wrongdoing, me or my family. I have no idea what you’re trying to get at with this ‘outlaw’ talk.”
16The king said, “Death, Ahimelech! You’re going to die—you and everyone in your family!”
17The king ordered his henchmen, “Surround and kill the priests of God! They’re hand in glove with David. They knew he was running away from me and didn’t tell me.” But the king’s men wouldn’t do it. They refused to lay a hand on the priests of God.
18-19Then the king told Doeg, “You do it—massacre the priests!” Doeg the Edomite led the attack and slaughtered the priests, the eighty-five men who wore the sacred robes. He then carried the massacre into Nob, the city of priests, killing man and woman, child and baby, ox, donkey, and sheep—the works.
20-21Only one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped: Abiathar. He got away and joined up with David. Abiathar reported to David that Saul had murdered the priests of God.
22-23David said to Abiathar, “I knew it—that day I saw Doeg the Edomite there, I knew he’d tell Saul. I’m to blame for the death of everyone in your father’s family. Stay here with me. Don’t be afraid. The one out to kill you is out to kill me, too. Stick with me. I’ll protect you.”
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.