1 Samuel 22:1-6

1 abiit ergo inde David et fugit in speluncam Odollam quod cum audissent fratres eius et omnis domus patris eius descenderunt ad eum illuc
2 et convenerunt ad eum omnes qui erant in angustia constituti et oppressi aere alieno et amaro animo et factus est eorum princeps fueruntque cum eo quasi quadringenti viri
3 et profectus est David inde in Maspha quae est Moab et dixit ad regem Moab maneat oro pater meus et mater mea vobiscum donec sciam quid faciat mihi Deus
4 et reliquit eos ante faciem regis Moab manseruntque apud eum cunctis diebus quibus David fuit in praesidio
5 dixitque Gad propheta ad David noli manere in praesidio proficiscere et vade in terram Iuda et profectus David venit in saltum Hareth
6 et audivit Saul quod apparuisset David et viri qui erant cum eo Saul autem cum maneret in Gabaa et esset in nemore quod est in Rama hastam manu tenens cunctique socii eius circumstarent eum

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.

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