1 Samuel 22:20

20 Only one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped: Abiathar. He got away and joined up with David.

1 Samuel 22:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 22:20

And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named
Abiathar, escaped
Who very probably was left by his father to take care of the sanctuary, and the holy things in it, when he and the rest of the priests were summoned to appear before Saul; who having heard of his bloody execution of them, before his messengers could get to Nob, took, the ephod, with the Urim and Thummim, and made his escape, as appears from ( 1 Samuel 23:6-9 ) ; this man succeeded his father in the high priesthood, and continued in it until the times of Solomon: and fled after David;
who was now removed, or removing from the forest of Hareth to Keilah, whither Abiathar followed him, and came to him there, ( 1 Samuel 23:6 ) , and with whom only he could be safe, and therefore it was right to flee unto him.

1 Samuel 22:20 In-Context

18 Then the king told Doeg, "You do it - massacre the priests!" Doeg the Edomite led the attack and slaughtered the priests, the eighty-five men who wore the sacred robes.
19 He then carried the massacre into Nob, the city of priests, killing man and woman, child and baby, ox, donkey, and sheep - the works.
20 Only one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped: Abiathar. He got away and joined up with David.
21 Abiathar reported to David that Saul had murdered the priests of God.
22 David said to Abiathar, "I knew it - that day I saw Doeg the Edomite there, I knew he'd tell Saul. I'm to blame for the death of everyone in your father's family.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.