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 and attack the priests.” Doeg from Edom turned and attacked the priests, and that day he killed 85 men wearing the linen priestly ephod. 19He also killed the people of Nob, the city of the priests. Using ⌞his⌟ sword, he killed men and women, children and infants, cows, donkeys, and sheep. But Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, had one son who escaped. His name was Abiathar. He fled to David. 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. 22David told Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible for all the lives of your 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 Ahimelech’s son Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, Abiathar brought a priestly ephod with him.
• 1 Samuel 30:7David told the priest Abiathar, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the priestly ephod.” So Abiathar brought David the ephod.
• 2 Samuel 20:25Sheva was the royal scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
• 1 Kings 2:26The king told the priest Abiathar, “Go to your land in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I won’t kill you at this time because you carried the ark of the Almighty Lord ahead of my father David and because you shared all my father’s sufferings.”
• 1 Samuel 2:33Any man in your family whom I do not remove from my altar will have his eyes fail, and he will be heartbroken. And all your descendants will die in the prime of life.
• 1 Samuel 4:12A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the front line of the battle. He went to Shiloh that day with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
• Job 1:15men from Sheba attacked. They took the livestock and massacred the servants. I’m the only one who has 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