1 Samuel 22:11-21

11 misit ergo rex ad accersiendum Ahimelech filium Achitob sacerdotem et omnem domum patris eius sacerdotum qui erant in Nobe qui venerunt universi ad regem
12 et ait Saul audi fili Achitob qui respondit praesto sum domine
13 dixitque ad eum Saul quare coniurastis adversum me tu et filius Isai et dedisti ei panes et gladium et consuluisti pro eo Deum ut consurgeret adversum me insidiator usque hodie permanens
14 respondensque Ahimelech regi ait et quis in omnibus servis tuis sicut David fidelis et gener regis et pergens ad imperium tuum et gloriosus in domo tua
15 num hodie coepi consulere pro eo Deum absit hoc a me ne suspicetur rex adversus servum suum rem huiuscemodi in universa domo patris mei non enim scivit servus tuus quicquam super hoc negotio vel modicum vel grande
16 dixitque rex morte morieris Ahimelech tu et omnis domus patris tui
17 et ait rex emissariis qui circumstabant eum convertimini et interficite sacerdotes Domini nam manus eorum cum David est scientes quod fugisset non indicaverunt mihi noluerunt autem servi regis extendere manum suam in sacerdotes Domini
18 et ait rex Doec convertere tu et inrue in sacerdotes conversusque Doec Idumeus inruit in sacerdotes et trucidavit in die illa octoginta quinque viros vestitos ephod lineo
19 Nobe autem civitatem sacerdotum percussit in ore gladii viros et mulieres parvulos et lactantes bovem et asinum et ovem in ore gladii
20 evadens autem unus filius Ahimelech filii Achitob cuius nomen erat Abiathar fugit ad David
21 et adnuntiavit ei quod occidisset Saul sacerdotes Domini

1 Samuel 22:11-21 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.

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