1 Samuel 22

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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.	1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his family heard about it, they came down to 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.	2 He was joined by all those who were in difficulties or in debt, or who were embittered, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were 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.'	3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Let my father and mother stay with you, until I learn what God will 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.	4 He left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David remained in the refuge.
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.	5 But the prophet Gad said to David: "Do not remain in the refuge. Leave, and go to the land of Judah." And so David 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.	6 Now Saul heard that David and his men had been located. At the time he was sitting in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree on the high place, holding his spear, while all his servants were standing by.
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	7 So he said to them: "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make each of you an officer over a thousand or a hundred men,
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.'	8 that you have all conspired against me and no one tells me that my son has made an agreement with the son of Jesse? None of you shows sympathy for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant to be an enemy against me, as is the case today."
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.	9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with the officers of Saul, spoke up: "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, in Nob.
10 That man consulted Yahweh on his behalf, gave him provisions and also the sword of Goliath thePhilistine.'	10 He consulted the LORD for him and gave him supplies, and the sword of Goliath the Philistine as well."
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.	11 At this the king sent a summons to Ahimelech the priest, son of Ahitub, and to all his family who were priests in Nob; and they all came to the king.
12 Saul said, 'Now listen, son of Ahitub!' He replied, 'Here I am, my lord.'	12 Then Saul said, "Listen, son of Ahitub!" He replied, "Yes, 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?'	13 Saul asked him, "Why did you conspire against me with the son of Jesse by giving him food and a sword and by consulting God for him, that he might rebel against me and become my enemy, as is the case today?"
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?	14 Ahimelech answered the king: "And who among all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your own house?
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.'	15 Is this the first time I have consulted God for him? No indeed! Let not the king accuse his servant or anyone in my family of such a thing. Your servant knows nothing at all, great or small, about the whole matter."
16 The king retorted, 'You must die, Ahimelech, you and your whole family.'	16 But the king said, "You shall die, Ahimelech, with all your 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.	17 The king then commanded his henchmen standing by: "Make the rounds and kill the priests of the LORD, for they assisted David. They knew he was a fugitive and yet failed to inform me." But the king's servants refused to lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
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.	18 The king therefore commanded Doeg, "You make the rounds and kill the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite went from one to the next and killed the priests himself, slaying on that day eighty-five 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.	19 Saul also put the priestly city of Nob to the sword, including men and women, children and infants, and oxen, asses and sheep.
20 One son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub alone escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled away to joinDavid.	20 One son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.
21 When Abiathar told David that Saul had slaughtered the priests of Yahweh,	21 When Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the priests of the LORD,
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.	22 David said to him: "I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all your family.
23 Stay with me, do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life seeks mine; you wil be safe with me.'	23 Stay with me. Fear nothing; he that seeks your life must seek my life also. You are under my protection."