David Gathers Band of 400
- Dates
- 1018 BC
After David gathers 400 men, Saul hears that Ahimelech gave David bread and Goliath's sword. He has all the priests and their families at Nob murdered. Abiathar escapes and tells David. David invites Abiathar to stay with him for safety.
In detail
Saul discovers David is back in Judah. Doeg makes an accusation against Ahimelech the priest and a massacre at Nob follows immediately upon the discovery of David's original escape. Doeg, the chief herdsman, saw his chance to be avenged on the priest Ahimelech (see ch. 21:7), as well as to enhance his position with the king. He virtually told Saul that Jonathan and the Benjamites were not so much in the wrong as the priest, who not only gave David food but inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him a weapon (v. 10). Doeg apparently did not volunteer this information until bribed by offers of rich rewards and high position.
Ahimelech did not deny the charge of aiding David, but he denied any disloyalty. Now that he had permission from the king of Israel, Doeg did not hesitate to lift his hand against the servant of God, even disregarding the sacred vestments of Ahimelech as well as those of his associates. Eighty—five men fell that day before the lust of selfish greed. What a contrast here between Saul's professed religious fervor that kept Agag alive (ch. 15:20) and his frenzy that enabled him to perpetrate an act unparalleled in Jewish history for its barbarity.
When David heard what happened from Abiathar, he invited him to stay with David. What a joy it must have been for David to welcome Abiathar to his company What encouragement it must have been to see the Urim and the Thummim (ch. 23:6) and to know that in spite of the devastation of Nob, the hand of God had been over the ephod and the priest who guarded it. Yet when David learned the awful facts of the tragedy, he was filled with remorse as he realized that he had been responsible for the death of the high priest and those who had perished with him.
He now wished that he had refused to stoop to duplicity. Gladly would he have done differently could he have had the year to live over again But the past could not be undone. Dreadful as was his self—reproach there was nothing to do but to reach "forth unto those things which are before" (Phil. 3:13).
Bible passages
- 1 Samuel 22:1-23
1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. 3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. …
Text of the King James Version.