Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

22:1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
22:3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
22:4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
22:5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
22:6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) 22:7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; 22:8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 22:9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
22:10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
22:11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
22:12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
22:13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 22:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? 22:15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
22:16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
22:17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
22:18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
22:19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
22:20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
22:21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
22:22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
22:23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.


Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Everything King James Bible:1 Samuel
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: 1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 22

Overview:
David at Adullam, Many resort to him. (1-5) Saul destroys the
priests of Nob. (6-19) Abiathar escapes to David. (20-23)

1-5 See what weak instruments God sometimes uses, to bring
about his own purposes. The Son of David is ready to receive
distressed souls, who will be commanded By him. He receives all
who come unto Him, however vile and miserable; he changes them
into a holy people, and employs them in his service: those who
would reign with him must be contented first to suffer with and
for him. Observe with what tender concern David provided for his
aged parents. The first thing he does is to find them a quiet
Habitation, whatever became of himself. Let children learn to
honour their parents, in every thing consulting their ease and
satisfaction. Though highly preferred, and much employed, let
them not forget their aged parents. The steps of a good Man are
ordered By the Lord. And the Lord will preserve his people for
their appointed work, however they may be hated and exposed.

6-19 See the nature of jealous malice and its pitiful arts.
Saul looks upon all about him as his enemies, because they do
not just say as he says. In Ahimelech's answer to Saul we have
the language of conscious innocence. But what wickedness will
not the evil Spirit hurry men to when he gets the dominion! Saul
alleges that which was utterly false and unproved. But the most
bloody tyrants have found instruments of their cruelty as
barbarous as themselves. Doeg, having murdered the priests, went
to the City, Nob, and Put all to the Sword there. Nothing So
vile but those may do it, who have provoked God to give them up
to their hearts' lusts. Yet this was the accomplishment of the
threatenings against the House of Eli. Though Saul was
unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting
it. No Word of God shall fall to the ground.

20-23 David greatly lamented the calamity. It is great trouble
to a good Man to find himself any way the cause of evil to
others. He must have been much pained, when he considered that
his falsehood was one cause of this fatal event. David speaks
with Assurance of his own safety, and promises that Abiathar
should have his protection. With the Son of David, all who are
his may be sure they shall be in safeguard, Ps 91:1. In the
hurry and distraction David was continually in, he found time
for Communion with God, and found comfort in it.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.