22So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.H1732H3212H4422H4631H5725H251H1H1004H8085H33812Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.H376H4689H376H5378H376H4751H5315H6908H8269H702H3967H3763Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, "Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me."H1732H3212H4708H4124H559H4428H4124H1H517H3318H3045H430H62134So David's parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.H5148H6440H4428H4124H3427H3117H1732H46865One day the prophet Gad told David, "Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah." So David went to the forest of Hereth.H5030H1410H559H1732H3427H4686H3212H935H776H3063H1732H3212H935H3293H28026The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.H7586H8085H1732H3045H582H7586H3427H1390H815H7414H2595H3027H5650H53247"Listen here, you men of Benjamin!" Saul shouted to his officers when he heard the news. "Has that son of Jesse promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army?H7586H559H5650H5324H8085H1145H1121H3448H5414H7704H3754H7760H8269H505H8269H39678Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You're not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!"H7194H1540H241H1121H3772H1121H3448H2470H1540H241H1121H6965H5650H693H31179Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul's men, spoke up. "When I was at Nob," he said, "I saw the son of Jesse talking to the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub.H6030H1673H130H5324H5650H7586H559H7200H1121H3448H935H5011H288H1121H28510Ahimelech consulted the LORD for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."H7592H3068H5414H6720H5414H2719H1555H6430
The Slaughter of the Priests
11King Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech and all his family, who served as priests at Nob.H4428H7971H7121H288H3548H1121H285H1H1004H3548H5011H935H442812When they arrived, Saul shouted at him, "Listen to me, you son of Ahitub!" "What is it, my king?" Ahimelech asked.H7586H559H8085H1121H285H559H11313"Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?" Saul demanded. "Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted God for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?"H7586H559H7194H1121H3448H5414H3899H2719H7592H430H6965H693H311714"But sir," Ahimelech replied, "is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household!H288H6030H4428H559H539H5650H1732H4428H2860H5493H4928H3513H100415This was certainly not the first time I had consulted God for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you."H3117H2490H7592H430H2486H4428H7760H1697H5650H1004H1H5650H3045H1697H6996H141916"You will surely die, Ahimelech, along with your entire family!" the king shouted.H4428H559H4191H4191H288H1H100417And he ordered his bodyguards, "Kill these priests of the LORD, for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn't tell me!" But Saul's men refused to kill the LORD's priests.H4428H559H7323H5324H5437H4191H3548H3068H3027H1732H3045H1272H1540H241H5650H4428H14H7971H3027H6293H3548H306818Then the king said to Doeg, "You do it." So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.H4428H559H1673H5437H6293H3548H1673H130H5437H6293H3548H4191H3117H8084H2568H376H5375H906H64619Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests' families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.H5011H5892H3548H5221H6310H2719H376H802H5768H3243H7794H2543H7716H6310H271920Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David.H259H1121H288H1121H285H8034H54H4422H1272H310H173221When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD,H54H5046H1732H7586H2026H3068H354822David exclaimed, "I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father's family.H1732H559H54H3045H3117H1673H130H5046H5046H7586H5437H5315H1H100423Stay here with me, and don't be afraid. I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both."H3427H3372H1245H5315H1245H5315H4931
Ashburn, VA
H7586
