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, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men who wore linen ephods. 19He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword — both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s 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 23:6Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
• 1 Samuel 30:7David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,
• 2 Samuel 20:25Sheva was court secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
• 1 Kings 2:26The king said to the priest Abiathar, “Go to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death today, since you carried the ark of the Lord God in the presence of my father David and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”
• 1 Samuel 2:33Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently.
• 1 Samuel 4:12That same day, a Benjaminite man ran from the battle and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and there was dirt on his head.
• Job 1:15the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with 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