1 Samuel 22:1-10

Saul's Increasing Paranoia

1 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam.[a] When David's brothers and his father's whole family heard, they went down and joined him there.
2 In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400 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 know 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[b] said to David, "Don't stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
7 Saul said to his servants, "Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse's son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? [Do you think] he'll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?[c]
8 That's why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me[d] when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse's son. None of you cares about me or tells me[e] that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as [is the case] today."
9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul's servants, answered: "I saw Jesse's son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.[f]
10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

1 Samuel 22:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 22

This chapter gives us an account of the flight of David from place to place, from Gath to the cave of Adullam, where his relations came to him; from thence to Mizpeh in Moab, where he got leave of the king of Moab for his father and mother to dwell there; and from thence, by the advice of Gad the prophet, departed into the land of Judah, and came to the forest of Hareth, 1Sa 21:1-5; and of the complaint of Saul to his servants of their unfaithfulness to him, and indolence and unconcern at the behaviour of Jonathan and David to him, 1Sa 22:6-8; when Doeg the Edomite informed him of David being seen by him at Nob, and of his receiving food and a sword from Ahimelech the priest, who inquired of the Lord for him, 1Sa 22:9,10; upon which Saul sent for Ahimelech and all the priests at Nob, and charged them with a conspiracy against him; and notwithstanding the defence the priest made, Saul ordered him and the rest of the priests to be slain by his guards; which they refusing, Doeg became the executioner of them, and of all the inhabitants of the city of Nob, and the cattle in it, 1Sa 22:11-19; only Abiathar a son of Ahimelech escaped and fled to David with the sorrowful news; which greatly affected David, looking upon himself to be the occasion of this sad disaster, and he took Abiathar under his protection, and promised him safety, 1Sa 22:20-23.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Pss 57, 142 superscriptions
  • [b]. 1 Ch 21:9; 29:29; 2 Ch 29:25
  • [c]. 1 Sm 8:12
  • [d]. Lit No one uncovers my ear
  • [e]. Lit or uncovers my ear
  • [f]. 1 Sm 21:1; Ps 52 superscription
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.