1 Samuel22
New American Standard
1So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard about it, they went down there to him.
2Then everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.
3And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.”
4Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
5But Gad the prophet said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; leave, and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went into the forest of Hereth.
6Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing in front of him.
7Saul said to his servants who were standing in front of him, “Hear now, you Benjaminites! Will the son of Jesse really give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?
8For all of you have conspired against me so that there is no one who informs me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who cares about me or informs me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush, as it is this day.”
9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing in front of the servants of Saul, responded and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10And he inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11Then the king sent a messenger to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s household, the priests who were in Nob; and all of them came to the king.
12Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” And he replied, “Here I am, my lord.”
13Saul then said to him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, so that he would rise up against me by lying in ambush as it is this day?”
14Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s own son-in-law, who is commander over your bodyguard, and is honored in your house?
15Did I just begin to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything against his servant or against any of the household of my father, because your servant knows nothing at all of this whole affair.”
16But the king said, “You shall certainly die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s household!”
17And the king said to the guards who were attending him, “Turn around 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 inform me.” But the servants of the king were unwilling to reach out with their hands to attack the priests of the Lord.
18Then the king said to Doeg, “You, turn around and attack the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
19He also struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; he also struck oxen, donkeys, and sheep with the edge of the sword.
20But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.
21Abiathar informed David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.
22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would certainly tell Saul. I myself have turned against every person in your father’s household.
23Stay with me; do not be afraid, even though he who is seeking my life is seeking your life. For you are safe with me.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 22.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David at Adullam, Many resort to him. (1–5). Saul destroys the priests of Nob. (6–19). Abiathar escapes to David. (20–23).
vv1-5
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.
vv6-19
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.
vv20-23
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.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
שָׁם: there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
מָלַט: properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks
מְעָרָה: a cavern (as dark)
עֲדֻלָּם: Adullam, a place in Palestine
אָח: a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
Cross References
1 Samuel 22The slaughter of Ahimelech and the priests fulfills the judgment pronounced on the house of Eli.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
David's psalm written directly concerning Doeg the Edomite reporting to Saul that David came to Ahimelech.
Supported by JFB
Verifies the Cave of Adullam as a strategic, strong hold used by David and his men.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Establishes Doeg's presence at Nob when David first visited Ahimelech.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Records Abiathar fleeing to David with the high priest's ephod in his hand.
Supported by JFB
Provides a biblical parallel of desperate, empty men gathering to a chosen leader.
Supported by JFB
Shows how David governed his men to act as a wall of defense, not lawless bandits.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Saul's hostility toward Moab explains why the king of Moab welcomed David.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Saul's appeal to his fellow Benjamites matches his fierce, jealous rage against his own son.
Supported by JFB
The previous chapter's events which Doeg reports to Saul, including the bread and sword.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Solomon references Abiathar escaping the slaughter of his father's house by Saul.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David receiving the distressed and indebted typifies Christ welcoming the spiritually weary.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts Saul's wicked command to slaughter priests with Obadiah saving God's prophets.
Supported by Matthew Henry