1 Samuel 22

¹ David left there and took refuge in the Cave of Adul am; his brothers and his father's whole familyheard this and joined him there.

² Al those in distress, al those in debt, al those who had a grievance, gathered round him and hebecame their leader. There were about four hundred men with him.

³ From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, 'Allow my father and motherto stay with you until I know what God intends to do for me.'

⁴ He left them with the king of Moab and there they stayed all the time that David was in the stronghold.

⁵ The prophet Gad, however, said to David, 'Do not stay in the stronghold; leave and make your wayinto the territory of Judah.' David then left and went to the forest of Hereth.

⁶ When Saul heard that David and the men with him had been discovered, Saul was at Gibeah, seatedunder the tamarisk on the high place, spear in hand, with al his staff standing round him.

⁷ 'Listen, Benjaminites!' said Saul to them, 'Is the son of Jesse going to give you all fields and vineyardsand make al of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds

⁸ that you al conspire against me? No one warned me when my son made a pact with the son of Jesse;none of you felt sorry for me or warned me when my son incited my servant to become my enemy, as he is now.'

⁹ Then, up spoke Doeg the Edomite, who was in command of Saul's staff, 'I saw the son of Jessecoming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.

¹⁰ That man consulted Yahweh on his behalf, gave him provisions and also the sword of Goliath thePhilistine.'

¹¹ The king then sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his whole family, the priests of Nob;they al came to the king.

¹² Saul said, 'Now listen, son of Ahitub!' He replied, 'Here I am, my lord.'

¹³ 'Why have you conspired against me,' said Saul, 'you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and asword and consulting God on his behalf, for him to rebel against me as is now the case?'

¹⁴ Ahimelech replied to the king, 'Of al those in your service, who is more loyal than David son-in-law tothe king, captain of your bodyguard, honoured in your household?

¹⁵ Was today the first time I ever consulted God on his behalf? Indeed it was not! The king has nogrounds for bringing any charge against his servant or against his whole family, for your servant knew nothingwhatever about al this.'

¹⁶ The king retorted, 'You must die, Ahimelech, you and your whole family.'

¹⁷ The king said to the scouts who were standing round him, 'Forward! and put the priests of Yahweh todeath, for they too are on David's side, they knew that he was escaping, yet did not warn me of it.' The king'sprofessional soldiers, however, would not lift a hand to strike the priests of Yahweh.

¹⁸ The king then said to Doeg, 'Forward, you! Fall on the priests!' Doeg the Edomite stepped forwardand fel on the priests, himself that day kil ing eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

¹⁹ Nob, the town of the priests, Saul put to the sword: men and women, children and infants, cattle,donkeys and sheep.

²⁰ One son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub alone escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled away to joinDavid.

²¹ When Abiathar told David that Saul had slaughtered the priests of Yahweh,

²² David said to Abiathar, 'I knew, that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would be sure toinform Saul. I am responsible for the death of all your kinsmen.

²³ Stay with me, do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life seeks mine; you wil be safe with me.'