1 Samuel 22

(Psalm 57:1–11; Psalm 142:1–7)

1So DavidH1732 leftH1980 Gath and took refugeH4422 inH413 the caveH4631 of AdullamH5725. When his brothersH251 and the rest ofH3605 his father’sH1 householdH1004 heard about itH8085, they went downH3381 to himH413 thereH8033. 2And allH3605 who were distressedH4689 or indebtedH5378H3605H376 or discontentedH4751H5315 ralliedH6908 around himH413, and he becameH1961 theirH5921 leaderH8269. About fourH702 hundredH3967 menH376 wereH1961 with himH5973.

3From thereH8033 DavidH1732 wentH1980 to MizpehH4708 of MoabH4124, where he saidH559 toH413 the kingH4428 of MoabH4124, “PleaseH4994 let my fatherH1 and motherH517 stayH33181 with youH854 untilH5704 I learnH3045 whatH4100 GodH430 will doH6213 for me.” 4So he left themH5148 inH854 the careH6440 of the kingH4428 of MoabH4124, and they stayedH3427 with himH5973 the wholeH3605 timeH3117 DavidH1732 wasH1961 in the strongholdH4686.

5Then the prophetH5030 GadH1410 saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “Do notH3808 stayH3427 in the strongholdH4686. DepartH1980 and goH935 into the landH776 of JudahH3063.” So DavidH1732 leftH1980 and wentH935 to the forestH3293 of HerethH2802.

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob

(Psalm 52:1–9)

6Soon SaulH7586 learnedH8085 thatH3588 DavidH1732H582 and his menH834H854 had been discoveredH3045. At that time SaulH7586 was sittingH3427 underH8478 the tamarisk treeH815 on the hillH7413 at GibeahH1390, with his spearH2595 in handH3027 and allH3605 his servantsH5650 standingH5324 around himH5921.

7Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to his servantsH5650H5324H5921, “ListenH8085H4994, menH1121 of BenjaminH3227H1571! Is the sonH1121 of JesseH3448 givingH5414 allH3605 of you fieldsH7704 and vineyardsH3754 and makingH7760 youH3605 commandersH8269 of thousandsH505 or hundredsH3967? 8Is thatH3588 why allH3605 of you have conspiredH7194 against meH5921? Not oneH369 of you toldH1540 meH853 thatH241 my own sonH1121 had made a covenantH3772 withH5973 the sonH1121 of JesseH3448. Not oneH369 of you has shown concernH2470 for meH5921 or revealedH1540 to meH241 thatH3588 my sonH1121 has stirred upH6965 my own servantH5650 to lie in waitH693 against meH5921, as is the case todayH3117H2088.”

9But DoegH1673 the EdomiteH130, whoH1931 had stationed himselfH5324 withH5921 Saul’sH7586H559 servantsH5650, answeredH6030: “I sawH7200 the sonH1121 of JesseH3448 comeH935 toH413 AhimelechH288 sonH1121 of AhitubH285 at NobH5011. 10Ahimelech inquiredH7592 of the LORDH3068 for him and gaveH5414 him provisionsH6720. He also gaveH5414 him the swordH2719 of GoliathH1555 the PhilistineH6430.”

11Then the kingH4428 sentH7971 messengers to summonH7121 AhimelechH288 the priestH3548, the sonH1121 of AhitubH285, and his father’sH1 wholeH3605 familyH1004, whoH834 were priestsH3548 at NobH5011. And allH3605 of them cameH935 toH413 the kingH4428. 12“ListenH8085 nowH4994, sonH1121 of AhitubH285,” saidH559 SaulH7586.

“Here I amH2005, my lordH113,” he repliedH559.

13And SaulH7586 askedH559 himH413, “WhyH4100 have youH859 and the sonH1121 of JesseH3448 conspiredH7194 against meH5921? You gaveH5414 him breadH3899 and a swordH2719 and inquiredH7592 of GodH430 for him so that he could rise upH6965 against meH413 to lie in waitH693, as he is doing todayH3117H2088.”

14AhimelechH288 answeredH6030 the kingH4428H559, “WhoH4310 among allH3605 your servantsH5650 is as faithfulH539 as DavidH1732, the king’sH4428 son-in-lawH2860, the captainH5493 ofH413 your bodyguardH4928 and honoredH3513 in your houseH1004? 15Was that dayH3117 the first timeH2490 I inquiredH7592 of GodH430 for himH7592? Far be itH2486 from me! Let notH408 the kingH4428 accuseH7760H1697 your servantH5650 or anyH3605 of my father’sH1 householdH1004, forH3588 your servantH5650 knewH3045 nothingH3808 of thisH2063 wholeH3605 affairH1697—not in partH6996 orH176 in wholeH1419.”

16But the kingH4428 repliedH559, “You will surely dieH4191, AhimelechH288, youH859 and allH3605 your father’sH1 houseH1004!”

17Then the kingH4428 orderedH559 the guardsH7323 at his sideH5324H5921, “TurnH5437 and killH4191 the priestsH3548 of the LORDH3068, becauseH3588 they tooH1571 sided withH3027H5973 DavidH1732. ForH3588 they knewH3045H3588 heH1931 was fleeingH1272, but they did notH3808 tellH1540 meH241.”

But the king’sH4428 servantsH5650 wouldH14 notH3808 liftH7971 a handH3027 to strikeH6293 the priestsH3548 of the LORDH3068.

18So the kingH4428 orderedH559 DoegH1673, “YouH859 turnH5437 and strike downH6293 the priestsH3548!”

And DoegH1673 the EdomiteH130 turnedH5437 and struck downH6293 the priestsH3548 himselfH1931. On thatH1931 dayH3117 he killedH4191 eighty-fiveH8084H2568 menH376 who woreH5375 the linenH906 ephodH646. 19He also putH5221 to the swordH6310H2719 NobH5011, the cityH5892 of the priestsH3548, with its menH376 andH5704 womenH802, childrenH5768 andH5704 infantsH3243, oxenH7794, donkeysH2543, and sheepH7716H6310H2719.

20But oneH259 of the sonsH1121 of AhimelechH288 sonH1121 of AhitubH285 escapedH4422. His nameH8034 was AbiatharH54, and he fledH1272 toH310 DavidH1732. 21And AbiatharH54 toldH5046 DavidH1732 thatH3588 SaulH7586 had killedH2026 the priestsH3548 of the LORDH3068.

22Then DavidH1732 saidH559 to AbiatharH54, “I knewH3045 that DoegH1673 the EdomiteH130H3588 was thereH8033 thatH1931 dayH3117, and thatH3588 he was sure to tellH5046 SaulH7586. I myselfH595 am responsibleH5437 for the livesH5315 of everyoneH3605 in your father’sH1 houseH1004. 23StayH3427 with meH854; do notH408 be afraidH3372, forH3588 he whoH834 seeksH1245 your lifeH5315 is seekingH1245 mineH5315H3588 as well. YouH859 will be safeH4931 with meH5978.”