1 Samuel22
World English Bible · Public Domain
1David therefore departed from there and escaped to Adullam’s cave. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
2Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them. There were with him about four hundred men.
3David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come out to you, until I know what God will do for me.”
4He brought them before the king of Moab; and they lived with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
5The prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Depart, and go into the land of Judah.” Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.
6Saul heard that David was discovered, with the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
7Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?
8Is that why all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a treaty with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”
9Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10He inquired of Yahweh for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob; and they all came to the king.
12Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”
13Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”
14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your body guard, and honored in your house?
15Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me! Don’t let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.”
16The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.”
17The king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled and didn’t disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king wouldn’t put out their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.
18The king said to Doeg, “Turn and attack the priests!” Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.
19He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword—both men and women, children and nursing babies, and cattle, donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
21Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh’s priests.
22David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house.
23Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be 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