1Samuel 22

1 David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:1

2 Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:2

3 David went there to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother stay with you, until I know what God will do for me."NHEB — 1Samuel 22:3

4 He brought them before the king of Moab; and they lived with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:4

5 The prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart, and go into the land of Judah." Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:5

6 Saul heard that David had been discovered, and the men who were with him. Now Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree at the high place, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:6

7 And he said to them, "Hear now, you Benjamites. Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,NHEB — 1Samuel 22:7

8 that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none who discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"NHEB — 1Samuel 22:8

9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered and said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:9

10 He inquired of God for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."NHEB — 1Samuel 22:10

11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:11

12 Saul said, "Hear now, you son of Ahitub." He answered, "Here I am, my lord."NHEB — 1Samuel 22:12

13 Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"NHEB — 1Samuel 22:13

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, "Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and a commander over your bodyguard, and honored in your house?NHEB — 1Samuel 22:14

15 Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me. Do not let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more."NHEB — 1Samuel 22:15

16 The king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house."NHEB — 1Samuel 22:16

17 The king said to the guard who stood about him, "Turn, and kill the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me." But the servants of the king wouldn't put forth their hand to fall on the priests of the LORD.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:17

18 The king said to Doeg, "Turn and attack the priests." Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:18

19 He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing babies, and cattle and donkeys and sheep.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:19

20 One of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:20

21 Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:21

22 David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for all the lives of your father's house.NHEB — 1Samuel 22:22

23 Stay with me, do not be afraid; for he who seeks my life seeks your life. For with me you shall be in safeguard."NHEB — 1Samuel 22:23