1 Samuel 22

David being fled from the Philistines, cometh to Adullam: where his kindred and other oppressed people come to him, vers.1, &c. from thence he goeth to Mizpa in the Land of the Moabites, 3. Where with the leave of the King of the Moabites, they remain for a while, 4. But by the exhortation of the Prophet Gad, he returneth to the Land of Juda, 5. Which Saul coming to hear of, 6. He accuseth his servants, yea even Jonathan of secret compact with David, 7. Doeg revealeth to the King what he had heard and seen at Nob, 9. Wherefore Saul sentenceth the High Priest Achimelech, and all the rest of the Priests to be put to death, 17. Which Doeg performed, slaying fourscore and five Priests, 18. Saul causeth the City of Nob, with all that is in it, to be laid waste, 19. Only Abiathar the Priest remaineth alive, who fled unto David, 20. Who telleth him what had passed at Nob, 21. David confesseth, that himself was the cause of this murder and cabarnity, 22. And he taketh Abiathar into his protection, 23.

1. Then David departed thence, and escaped into the cave of Adullam: [See the annotate. on Jos.12.15.] And his brethren heard it, and all his fathers house, and came down thither to him.

2. And (there) assembled to him, every man that was distressed, [viz. by reason of poverty, or any other misery. Heb. every man to distresse] and every man that had a Creditor, [viz. that vexed him sore, and daily urged payment, contrary to the Law, Exod.22.25.] and every man whose Soul was bitterly grieved, [Heb. to whom the Soul was bitter. See the like phrase, I Sam.1.10. and 2 Kings 4:27.] and he became a Commander over them: so (there) were with him about four hundred men.

3. And David went thence to Mizpa of the Moabites: [See of this City the annotate. on Judg.11.1.] and he said unto the King of the Moabites, [This King was Sauls enemy, as appeareth, I Sam. 14.48. Wherefore he the rather granted unto David a place of residence in his Land: As the Philistines also did, below chap.27. Others conceive, that David fled thither, because his grand fathers wife, viz. Obeds mother, was a Moabitish woman, hoping in that respect to finde more favour with the Moabites, then with other nations] Let I pray thee, my father, and my mother go out among you, [i.e. go out and in under your protection: dwell and converse among you for a while. Oth. go out you] till I know what God will do for me.

4. And he brought them before the face of the King of the Moabites: and they remained with him all the days that David was in the hold. [Understand this of Mizpa of the Moabites, as v.3.]

5. But the Prophet Gad, [This Prophet was much with David, as appeareth, 2 Sam. 24.11. and I Chro.21.9. and 2 Chron. 29.25. and elsewhere] said unto David, Abide not in the hold, go thy way, and go into the Land of Juda: then David departed, and he came into the forest of Chereth.

6. And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him: now Saul sat upon an hill, [Oth. in Gibea. Oth. in an high place] under the trees at Rama, and he had his spear in his hand, and all his servants stood by him.

7. Then said Saul unto his servants that stood by him; Hear now, ye sons of Jemini: [See Judg.19. on vers.16.] will also the Son of Isa, [See above chap.20.27. As also below, vers.9.] give to you all fields and vineyards? will he make you all Commanders of thousands, and Commanders of hundreds?

8. That ye have all combined against me, and no man revealeth (before) mine ear, [i.e. discovereth to me, or, maketh known: see Ruth 4:4.] that my son hath made a covenant with the son of Isai, [Saul speaketh this, either by guesse, because Jonathan spake in Davids behalf: or it was told him by some body, that Jonathan and David had entred into a covenant one with another, whereof mention is made above chap.18.3.] and there is none among you that is grieved for my sake, and that revealeth it (before) mine ear: for my son hath stirred up mu servant against me to (be) a lier in wait, as it is at this day. [This Saulspeaketh out of jealousie, the rather because David was come into the Land of Juda, with four hundred men, conceiving that he had secret intelligence with Jonathan]

9. Then answered Doeg the Edomite, [Oth. Adomite. See above chap.21.7.] which stood by the servants of Saul, [Oth. and which was set over set over the servants of Saul] and said, I saw the son of Isai, [This courtlier flatterer speaketh just in the same language or stile as his Master Saul doth, vers.7. See likewise of Doeg, I Sam.21.7. and Psal.52. 1, 2, &c.] running to Nob, to Achimelech the son of Achitub: [Of Achitub mention is made above chap.14.3.]

10. Who enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victual: he gave him also the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

11. Then the King sent forth, to call Achimelech the Priest the son of Ahitub, [This Ahitub was the son of Pinehas the son of Eli: he had two sons; viz. Ahija, of whom mention is mae above chap.14.3. and Achimelech, of whom mention is made in this place] and all his fathers house, the Priests that were at Nob: and they came all to the King.

12. And Saul said, hear now, thou son of Ahitub; and he said, Behold, (here) am I, my Lord:

13. Then said Saul unto him, Why have ye combined together against me, thou, and the son of Isai? In that thou hast given him bread, and the sword, and enquired of God for him, that he should rise up against me, to be a lier in wait, as it is at this day.

14. And Achimelech answered the King, and said; Who is now among all thy servants, (so) faithful as David, and the Kings son in Law, and going on in obedience of thee, [i.e. He goeth wither soever thou appointest, or sendest him. See above chapter 21.2. Achimelech knew no otherwise, then he speaketh here, when he gave David the shew bread and Goliaths sword] and is honourable in thine house?

15. Did I today begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: [viz. That I should have conspired with David against thee: as Saul upbraided him, vers.13.] let not the King impute any thing [viz. any matter of conspiracy or rebellion against the King] unto thy servant, [i.e. unto me] (nor) to all the house of my father, for thy servant knew nothing of all these things, [viz. of any conspiracy or combining against the King, whereof mention is made, vers.8.] little nor great.

16. But the King said: Achimelech, thou must die the death; [Heb. dying thou shalt die; as if he should say, I will straight-way command thee to be put to death] thou and all thy fathers house.

17. And the King said unto the Guard, that stood by him, Turn your selves, and slay the Priests of the LORD, [Saul indeed passed wrong sentence against these Priests, and through his own wilfulness caused them to be put to death: Nevertheless, doing this, he fulfilleth that which the Lord in his just judgment had determined against the house of Eli. See above chap, 2.30.] because their hand is also with David, [i.e. Because they hold intelligence with David, and are co-partners with him in his disloyalty against me] and because they knew that he fled, and have not revealed it before mine ears: but the servants of the King would not put forth their hand, to fall upon the Priests of the LORD.

18. Then said the King unto Doeg, Turn thou thy self, and fall upon the Priests: then Doeg the Edomite turned himself, and he fell upon the Priests, and slew that day fourscore and five men, that wore the linen Ephod. [i.e. that performed the service of God in the Tent: for when they performed that they were to put on linen garments. See Exod.28.42.]

19. He smote also Nob the City of these Priests with the edge [Heb. mouth] of the sword, from the man to the woman, from the children to the suckling’s: even the oxen, and asses, and the sheep (he smote) with the edge of the sword.

20. But one of the sons of Achimelech the son of Ahitub escaped, whose name was Abiathar: he fled after David. [He came to him at Kehila. I Sam.23.6.]

21. And Abiathar reported to David, [viz. when he was come to David at Kehila] that Saul had slain the Priests of the LORD.

22. Then said David to Abiathar, I knew well that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would assuredly make it known [Heb. relating would relate] to Saul. I have given cause against all the Souls [i.e. men, as Gen.14.21.] of thy fathers house. [As if David had said, I am the occasion of what hath come upon all the persons of thy fathers house: it was for my sake, but without my intent and purpose]

23. Abide with me, fear not, for whosoever shall seek my Soul, the same shall seek thy Soul: but thou shalt be with me inn custody [i.e. God will preserve and keep us both: Or, I take thee unto my custody, (or, guard) with me: i.e. thou shall be with me, to keep the guard over the service and worship of God, and I will enquire of the Lord by thee in all concurrences: See I Sam.30.7.]