1 Samuel 22:16

16 And the king said, Ahimelech, thou shalt die by death, thou, and all the house of thy father. (And the king said, Ahimelech, thou shalt die, thou, and all thy family.)

1 Samuel 22:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 22:16

And the king said, thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech
He pronounces the sentence himself, without taking the opinion and advice of others, or further time; which was an act of arbitrary power, and upon an innocent person, which was an act of great injustice: thou, and all thy father's house;
more unrighteous still; but God suffered him to do this to fulfil his will, and execute his threatenings against the house of Eli, which was this priest's father's house, for former wickedness; but this is no excuse for, nor extenuation of the sin of, Saul.

1 Samuel 22:16 In-Context

14 And Ahimelech answered to the king, and said, Who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, and he is thy son-in-law, and going at thy behest, and glorious in all thine house? (And Ahimelech answered the king, and said, Who among all thy servants is as faithful as David, and he is the king's son-in-law, and doeth thy bidding, and who is more honourable in all thy household?)

15 Whether I began today to counsel (with) the Lord for him? Far be this from me; suppose not the king such (a) thing against his servant, (or) in all the house of my father (or in all my family); for thy servant knew not anything, either little, either great, of this cause.

16 And the king said, Ahimelech, thou shalt die by death, thou, and all the house of thy father. (And the king said, Ahimelech, thou shalt die, thou, and all thy family.)

17 And the king said to (the) men able to be sent out (to do his bidding), that stood about him, Turn ye, and slay the priests of the Lord, for the hand of them is with David; and they knew that he fled, and they showed not to me. Soothly the servants of the king would not hold forth their hand into the priests of the Lord (But the king's guards would not put their hands against the Lord's priests).

18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and hurtle into the priests of the Lord. And Doeg of Idumea turned, and hurtled into the priests, and strangled in that day fourscore and five men, clothed with ephods of linen cloth, or linen priests? capes (and killed eighty-five men that day, each of whom could carry the ephod).