1 Samuel
1 Samuel 22 ©
1David's kindred and others resort unto him at Adullam. 3At Mizpeh he commendeth his parents to the protection of the king of Moab. 5Admonished by Gad he removeth to Harath. 6Saul complaineth of the unfaithfulness of his servants. 9Doeg accuseth Ahimelech. 11Ahimelech is sent for with the priests, and answereth the charge. 17The footmen refusing to slay the priests at the king's command, Doeg executeth it: their city Nob is destroyed. 20Abiathar escaping bringeth David the news.
DAVID therefore adeparted thence, and escaped to the bcave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
And every one that was cin distress, and every one that 1was in debt, and every one that was 2discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a dcaptain over them: and there were with him about efour hundred men.
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
¶When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in kGibeah under a 3tree in lRamah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will mthe son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that 4sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me nthat my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, 5Here I am, my lord.
And Saul said unto him, sWhy have ye conspired against me, thou and the tson of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, 6less or more.
¶And the king said unto the 7footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their yhand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king zwould not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
And the king said to aDoeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did bwear a linen *ephod.
And cNob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, dboth men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned gthe death of all the persons of thy father's house.
hAbide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.