1 Samuel 22:20

20 One of the sons of Achimelekh, the son of Achituv, named Avyatar, escaped, and fled after 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 The king said to Do'eg, Turn you, and fall on the Kohanim. Do'eg the Edomite turned, and he fell on the Kohanim, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore a linen efod.

19 Nov, the city of the Kohanim, struck he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing babies, and oxen and donkeys and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20 One of the sons of Achimelekh, the son of Achituv, named Avyatar, escaped, and fled after David.

21 Avyatar told David that Sha'ul had slain the LORD's Kohanim.

22 David said to Avyatar, I knew on that day, when Do'eg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Sha'ul: I have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of your father's house.