1 Samuel 22:20

1 Samuel 22:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
• New International Version (NIV)But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.

Context of 1 Samuel 22:20

18So the king said to Doeg, “You turn around and attack the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests, and that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the [priest’s] linen ephod. 19And he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; also he struck oxen and donkeys and sheep with the edge of the sword. But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David. 21Abiathar told David that Saul had murdered the Lord’s priests. 22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would certainly tell Saul. I have brought about the death of everyone in your father’s household (extended family).

1 Samuel 22:20 word by word

וַיִּמָּלֵ֣ט בֵּן־אֶחָ֗ד לַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בֶּן־אֲחִט֔וּב וּשְׁמ֖וֹ אֶבְיָתָ֑ר וַיִּבְרַ֖ח אַחֲרֵ֥י דָוִֽד׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăchîymelek · AhimelechH288
• of Ahitubאֲחִיטוּב'ăchîyţûb · AhitubH285
• namedשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• Abiatharאֶבְיָתָר'ebyâthâr · AbiatharH54
• escapedמָלַטmâlaţ · to escapeH4422
• and fledבָּרַחbârach · to fleeH1272
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 22:20

• 1 Samuel 23:6When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
• 1 Samuel 30:7David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought him the ephod.
• 2 Samuel 20:25Sheva was the scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
• 1 Kings 2:26Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to Anathoth to your own fields, for you certainly deserve to die; but I will not put you to death this day, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David, and you suffered everything that my father endured.”
• 1 Samuel 2:33Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar; your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul will grieve, and all those born in your house will die as men [in the prime of life].
• 1 Samuel 4:12Now a man [from the tribe] of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head [as signs of mourning over the disaster].
• Job 1:15and the Sabeans attacked and swooped down on them and took away the animals. They also killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 22:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Abiathar, escaped - This man carried with him his sacerdotal garments, as we find from 1 Samuel 23:6, 1 Samuel 23:9.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Abiathar - He may have remained at Nob to take care of the sanctuary when the other priests went to Saul, and so escaped. He continued David‘s faithful friend throughout his reign 1 Samuel 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7; 2 Samuel 15:24, 2 Samuel 15:29, 2 Samuel 15:35, but gave offence by taking Adonijah‘s part against Solomon 1 Kings 1:7, 1 Kings 1:19, 1 Kings 1:42, and in consequence was deprived of the high priesthood 1 Kings 2:26-27. In Mark 2:26, he is spoken of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-23Verses 20-23 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, Psa 91:1. In the hurry and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Abiathar became an adviser to David, providing guidance from the Lord through the ephod (a priestly garment) (1 Samuel 23:2–12; 2 Samuel 15:24–36). Later, he conspired with Adonijah against David and Solomon (1 Kings 1–2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2320-23. one of the sons of Ahimelech ... escaped--This was Abiathar, who repaired to David in the forest of Hareth, rescuing, with his own life, the high priest's vestments (1Sa 23:6, 9). On hearing his sad tale, David declared that he had dreaded such a fatal result from the malice and intriguing ambition of Doeg; and, accusing himself as having been the occasion of all the disaster to Abiathar's family, David invited him to remain, because, firmly…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 22:20

• Abiathar
• Ahimelech
• Ahitub

In the dictionaries

• Abiathar
• David
• Ahimelech
• Ahitub
• Jesse
• Nob
• Priest, High
• Samuel, Books of
• Urim and Thummim
• Zadok

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings