1 Samuel 22:1-6

The Priests Slain at Nob

1 So David departed from there and 1escaped to 2the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father's household heard of it, they went down there to him.
2 Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented * gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were 3about four hundred men with him.
3 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until * I know what God will do for me."
4 Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
5 4The prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah." So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.
6 Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now 5Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.

1 Samuel 22:1-6 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.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Ps 57: title
  • 2. Joshua 12:15; Joshua 15:35; 2 Samuel 23:13; Ps 142: title
  • 3. 1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Samuel 25:13
  • 4. 2 Samuel 24:11; 1 Chronicles 21:9; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25
  • 5. Judges 4:5; 1 Samuel 14:2

Footnotes 2

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