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1 Samuel

1 Samuelchapter 22

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A.Adullam: the distressed and the debtors gathervv. 1-5

1 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.” 4 So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold. 5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

B.Doeg the Edomite tells what he sawvv. 6-10

6 Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds? 8 Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.” 9 But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

C.Eighty-five priests killed; one son escapes to Davidvv. 11-23

11 Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king. 12 “Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied. 13 And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.” 14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard who is honored in your house? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.” 16 But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!” 17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. 18 So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. 20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house. 23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition
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Chapter summary

David reaches the cave of Adullam, and a militia gathers to him: everyone in distress, everyone in debt, everyone discontented, about four hundred men, and he became captain over them.

Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾

David reaches the cave of Adullam, and a militia gathers to him: everyone in distress, everyone in debt, everyone discontented, about four hundred men, and he became captain over them. He lodges his parents with the king of Moab, and the prophet Gad sends him back into Judah. Meanwhile Saul, sitting under the tamarisk with his spear, complains that no one pities him, and Doeg speaks. Ahimelech's defense is honest: who among all thy servants is so faithful as David? Saul orders the priests killed; his guard refuses; Doeg does it, eighty-five men wearing the linen ephod, and the city of Nob after them. Abiathar alone escapes, and David takes the blame.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Samuel, Nathan, Gad — 1 Samuel overview

  • A. 1–5 Adullam: the distressed and the debtors gather
  • B. 6–10 Doeg the Edomite tells what he saw
  • C. 11–23 Eighty-five priests killed; one son escapes to David
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
  • 1 Samuel 225 verses
    • 1 Samuel 22:7Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?
    • 1 Samuel 22:8Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
    • 1 Samuel 22:9But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
    • 1 Samuel 22:11Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.
    • 1 Samuel 22:13And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”
    • Read 1 Samuel 22 →
  • 1 Samuel 234 verses
    • 1 Samuel 23:1Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.”
    • 1 Samuel 23:4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
    • 1 Samuel 23:6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
    • 1 Samuel 23:21“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.
    • Read 1 Samuel 23 →
  • 1 Samuel 204 verses
    • 1 Samuel 20:2“Far from it!” Jonathan replied. “You will not die. Indeed, my father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This cannot be true!”
    • 1 Samuel 20:31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”
    • 1 Samuel 20:32“Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”
    • 1 Samuel 20:33Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him; so Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.
    • Read 1 Samuel 20 →
  • 1 Samuel 303 verses
    • 1 Samuel 30:7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,
    • 1 Samuel 30:8and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”
    • 1 Samuel 30:22but all the wicked and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered, except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”
    • Read 1 Samuel 30 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
  • 1 Samuel 142 verses
    • 1 Samuel 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
    • 1 Samuel 14:47After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.
    • Read 1 Samuel 14 →
  • 1 Samuel 182 verses
    • 1 Samuel 18:3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
    • 1 Samuel 18:10The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,
    • Read 1 Samuel 18 →
  • 1 Samuel 192 verses
    • 1 Samuel 19:4Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you.
    • 1 Samuel 19:9But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,
    • Read 1 Samuel 19 →
  • 1 Samuel 22 verses
    • 1 Samuel 2:33And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, your eyes will fail and your heart will grieve. All your descendants will die by the sword of men.
    • 1 Samuel 2:36And everyone left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a morsel of bread, pleading, “Please appoint me to some priestly office so that I can eat a piece of bread.”’”
    • Read 1 Samuel 2 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.