I Samuel 22: David's Flight and Saul's Descent into Madness
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.
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.
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.
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.
And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.
And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the Lord’s priests.
And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.
Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
I Samuel 22 recounts a dark chapter in the intertwined lives of David and Saul, highlighting David's resourcefulness in the face of persecution and Saul's spiraling descent into paranoia and violence. This chapter reveals God's providential care for David, even amidst great danger, and serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of unchecked power and fear.
David Seeks Refuge (I Samuel 22:1-5)
Faced with hostility from the Philistines, David sought refuge in the cave of Adullam, approximately twenty miles southwest of Jerusalem (I Samuel 22:1). This cave became a haven not only for David but also for his family, who were likely under threat from Saul. News of David's location spread, and soon, a diverse group of men joined him: those who were distressed, in debt, and discontented – individuals marginalized by society and harboring grievances against Saul's leadership (I Samuel 22:2). This ragtag band would eventually become the core of David's loyal army.
Seeking further protection for his family, David journeyed to Moab, the land of his great-grandmother Ruth (see Ruth 4:21-22), entrusting them to the care of the Moabite king (I Samuel 22:3). While David and his men initially sought refuge in a stronghold (I Samuel 22:4), the prophet Gad advised David to return to the land of Judah, where they hid in a forest (I Samuel 22:5). This change of location, prompted by divine guidance, demonstrates David's reliance on God's direction even in moments of uncertainty.
Saul's Paranoia and Doeg's Treachery (I Samuel 22:6-10)
Back in Gibeah, Saul's paranoia reached a fever pitch. He accused his own servants of conspiring against him and siding with David (I Samuel 22:6-8). Saul's twisted accusations, including the assertion that Jonathan was plotting against him and that David was lying in wait to ambush him, reveal the extent of his mental instability.
Doeg the Edomite seized this opportunity to ingratiate himself with Saul. He recounted his encounter with Ahimelech the priest at Nob, embellishing the details to suggest that Ahimelech had knowingly aided David in his rebellion (I Samuel 22:9-10; see also I Samuel 21:7). Doeg's malicious report, fueled by his desire for favor, proved to be a catalyst for unspeakable tragedy.
The Massacre at Nob (I Samuel 22:11-19)
Saul summoned Ahimelech and his entire family to stand trial for treason (I Samuel 22:11-13). The "trial" was a mere formality, a kangaroo court driven by Saul's pre-determined guilt. Ahimelech valiantly defended himself and David, explaining that he had acted in good faith, believing he was assisting a loyal servant of the king (I Samuel 22:14-15).
However, Ahimelech's plea fell on deaf ears. Saul, blinded by his paranoia and rage, condemned Ahimelech and his family to death (I Samuel 22:16). Shockingly, Saul's own guards refused to carry out the execution of the priests of the Lord, perhaps out of fear of divine retribution (I Samuel 22:17).
Doeg the Edomite, lacking such scruples, stepped forward and carried out Saul's heinous command. He not only slaughtered eighty-five priests at Nob but also massacred every man, woman, child, and animal in the town (I Samuel 22:18-19). This act of brutality stands as a stark testament to the devastating consequences of unchecked power and the willingness of some to commit unspeakable acts in the service of a corrupt leader.
Abiathar's Escape and David's Grief (I Samuel 22:20-23)
Only Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escaped the massacre and fled to David, bringing news of the horrific events (I Samuel 22:20-21). David, though not directly responsible for Saul's actions, recognized his role in the chain of events that led to the tragedy and felt a deep sense of grief and responsibility (I Samuel 22:22). He offered Abiathar refuge and protection, and Abiathar remained with David, later serving as a priest during David's reign (I Samuel 22:23).
David's response to the tragedy at Nob is a model for how we should respond to injustice and suffering. While Saul felt no remorse for his actions, David felt responsible and offered comfort to the one who escaped.
Psalm 52, attributed to David, reflects his feelings upon learning of Doeg's treachery. David expressed confidence in God's justice and steadfast love, trusting that God would ultimately bring down the wicked (see Psalm 52:5-9). This serves as a reminder that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable evil, we can find hope and strength in God's faithfulness. God is still on his throne, and he will ultimately right every wrong.
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.
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.
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.
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.
And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.
And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the Lord’s priests.
And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.
Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
I Samuel 22 recounts a dark chapter in the intertwined lives of David and Saul, highlighting David's resourcefulness in the face of persecution and Saul's spiraling descent into paranoia and violence. This chapter reveals God's providential care for David, even amidst great danger, and serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of unchecked power and fear.
David Seeks Refuge (I Samuel 22:1-5)
Faced with hostility from the Philistines, David sought refuge in the cave of Adullam, approximately twenty miles southwest of Jerusalem (I Samuel 22:1). This cave became a haven not only for David but also for his family, who were likely under threat from Saul. News of David's location spread, and soon, a diverse group of men joined him: those who were distressed, in debt, and discontented – individuals marginalized by society and harboring grievances against Saul's leadership (I Samuel 22:2). This ragtag band would eventually become the core of David's loyal army.
Seeking further protection for his family, David journeyed to Moab, the land of his great-grandmother Ruth (see Ruth 4:21-22), entrusting them to the care of the Moabite king (I Samuel 22:3). While David and his men initially sought refuge in a stronghold (I Samuel 22:4), the prophet Gad advised David to return to the land of Judah, where they hid in a forest (I Samuel 22:5). This change of location, prompted by divine guidance, demonstrates David's reliance on God's direction even in moments of uncertainty.
Saul's Paranoia and Doeg's Treachery (I Samuel 22:6-10)
Back in Gibeah, Saul's paranoia reached a fever pitch. He accused his own servants of conspiring against him and siding with David (I Samuel 22:6-8). Saul's twisted accusations, including the assertion that Jonathan was plotting against him and that David was lying in wait to ambush him, reveal the extent of his mental instability.
Doeg the Edomite seized this opportunity to ingratiate himself with Saul. He recounted his encounter with Ahimelech the priest at Nob, embellishing the details to suggest that Ahimelech had knowingly aided David in his rebellion (I Samuel 22:9-10; see also I Samuel 21:7). Doeg's malicious report, fueled by his desire for favor, proved to be a catalyst for unspeakable tragedy.
The Massacre at Nob (I Samuel 22:11-19)
Saul summoned Ahimelech and his entire family to stand trial for treason (I Samuel 22:11-13). The "trial" was a mere formality, a kangaroo court driven by Saul's pre-determined guilt. Ahimelech valiantly defended himself and David, explaining that he had acted in good faith, believing he was assisting a loyal servant of the king (I Samuel 22:14-15).
However, Ahimelech's plea fell on deaf ears. Saul, blinded by his paranoia and rage, condemned Ahimelech and his family to death (I Samuel 22:16). Shockingly, Saul's own guards refused to carry out the execution of the priests of the Lord, perhaps out of fear of divine retribution (I Samuel 22:17).
Doeg the Edomite, lacking such scruples, stepped forward and carried out Saul's heinous command. He not only slaughtered eighty-five priests at Nob but also massacred every man, woman, child, and animal in the town (I Samuel 22:18-19). This act of brutality stands as a stark testament to the devastating consequences of unchecked power and the willingness of some to commit unspeakable acts in the service of a corrupt leader.
Abiathar's Escape and David's Grief (I Samuel 22:20-23)
Only Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escaped the massacre and fled to David, bringing news of the horrific events (I Samuel 22:20-21). David, though not directly responsible for Saul's actions, recognized his role in the chain of events that led to the tragedy and felt a deep sense of grief and responsibility (I Samuel 22:22). He offered Abiathar refuge and protection, and Abiathar remained with David, later serving as a priest during David's reign (I Samuel 22:23).
David's response to the tragedy at Nob is a model for how we should respond to injustice and suffering. While Saul felt no remorse for his actions, David felt responsible and offered comfort to the one who escaped.
Psalm 52, attributed to David, reflects his feelings upon learning of Doeg's treachery. David expressed confidence in God's justice and steadfast love, trusting that God would ultimately bring down the wicked (see Psalm 52:5-9). This serves as a reminder that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable evil, we can find hope and strength in God's faithfulness. God is still on his throne, and he will ultimately right every wrong.