1 Samuel 22

David Gathers a Band at Adullam

1David went from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard, they went down to him there. 2Everyone who was in distress, everyone who had a creditor, and everyone bitter in spirit gathered to him, and he became commander over them. There were with him about four hundred men. 3David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother go out with you until I know what God will do for me.” 4He brought them before the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the days that David was in the stronghold.

Gad Sends David Back to Judah

5Gad the prophet said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the land of Judah.” So David went and came to the forest of Hereth.

Saul Accuses His Servants

6Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing around him. 7Saul said to his servants standing around him, “Hear now, Benjaminites! Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8that all of you have conspired against me, and no one uncovers my ear when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse? None of you is grieved for me or uncovers my ear that my son has raised up my servant against me as one lying in wait, as it is this day.”

Doeg Reports Ahimelech’s Help

9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing over the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub. 10He inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

Saul Summons the Priests of Nob

11Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest son of Ahitub and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” He said, “Here I am, my lord.” 13Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has risen against me as one lying in wait, as it is this day?” 14Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15Did I begin today to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king place anything upon his servant or upon all my father’s house, for your servant knew nothing of all this, small or great.”

Saul Orders the Priests Killed

16But the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.” 17The king said to the runners standing around him, “Turn and put the priests of the LORD to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not uncover my ear.” But the king’s servants were not willing to stretch out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD. 18Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests. He put to death on that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword—man and woman, child and nursing infant, ox and donkey and sheep—with the edge of the sword.

Abiathar Escapes to David

20But one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped, whose name was Abiathar, and he fled after David. 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 22David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, because Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I myself have caused the death of every person of your father’s house. 23Stay with me. Do not fear, for the one who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be under protection.”