# 1 Samuel 22 đź“–: Saul Kills the Priests
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### David Goes to Adullam and Mizpah
[[#Verse 01.]] So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s family learned about it, they went down there to him.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. He had about 400 men with him.
[[#Verse 03.]] Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me.”Â
[[#Verse 04.]] So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time that David was in the stronghold.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Then Gad the prophet said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
### Saul Executes the Priests
[[#Verse 06.]] But Saul found out the whereabouts of David and the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at an elevated location with his spear in hand and all his servants stationed around him.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Saul said to his servants, “Listen up, you Benjaminites! Is Jesse’s son giving fields and vineyards to all of you? Or is he making all of you commanders and officers?Â
[[#Verse 08.]] For all of you have conspired against me! No one informs me when my own son makes an agreement with the son of Jesse. Not one of you feels sorry for me or informs me that my own son has commissioned my own servant to hide in ambush against me, as is the case today!”
[[#Verse 09.]] But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with the servants of Saul, replied, “I saw this son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] He inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
[[#Verse 11.]] Then the king arranged for a meeting with the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priests of his father’s house who were at Nob. They all came to the king.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He replied, “Here I am, my lord.”Â
[[#Verse 13.]] Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!”
[[#Verse 14.]] Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is faithful like David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the leader of your bodyguard, and honored in your house.
[[#Verse 15.]] Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse his servant or any of my father’s house, for your servant is not aware of all this—not in whole or in part!”
[[#Verse 16.]] But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”Â
[[#Verse 17.]] Then the king said to the messengers who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm the priests of the Lord.
[[#Verse 18.]] Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] As for Nob, the city of the priests, Doeg struck down men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep—all with the sword.
[[#Verse 20.]]Â But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.Â
[[#Verse 22.]] Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I am guilty of all the deaths in your father’s house.Â
[[#Verse 23.]] Stay with me. Don’t be afraid. Whoever seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me.”
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
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###### Verse 08.
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###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The cave of Adullam (22:1) was in the hill country of Judah, near the Valley of Elah.
2. The headings of Psalm 57 and Psalm 142 connect those psalms to David's time in a cave.
3. David took his parents to Moab for safety (22:3-4). His great-grandmother Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 4:13-17).
4. The prophet Gad first appears here (22:5) and later served as David's seer (2 Samuel 24:11).
5. Saul sat under a tamarisk tree at Gibeah holding his spear (22:6), a picture of his paranoid rule.
6. Saul asked his fellow Benjamites if David would give them fields and vineyards (22:7), appealing to tribal loyalty and self-interest.
7. Doeg the Edomite killed eighty-five priests who wore the linen ephod (22:18).
8. Saul destroyed Nob completely, men, women, children, and animals (22:19), the very thing he failed to do against Amalek (15:9).
9. Abiathar escaped (22:20), a survivor of Eli's line, as the Lord had said in 2:33.
10. The heading of Psalm 52 ties that psalm to Doeg's betrayal.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the King who welcomes the distressed and makes them His own. Everyone in distress, debt, or bitterness gathered to David (22:2), and Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest (Matthew 11:28).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. David's followers were people in distress, debt, and discontent (22:2). What does that say about who God uses?
2. Doeg was willing to do evil when others refused (22:17-18). What gives people courage to refuse what is wrong, even when ordered to do it?
3. David took responsibility for the death of the priests (22:22). What does it look like to own the effects of our choices?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 2: About four hundred distressed, indebted, and discontented men gather to David.
- đź“– verse 17: Saul's servants refuse to raise their hands against the Lord's priests.
- đź“– verse 23: David tells Abiathar to stay with him, because he will be safe there.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[1 Samuel 02#Verse 31.|1 Samuel 2:31-33]] - The warning to Eli's house.
- đź”— [[Psalm 52#Verse 01.|Psalm 52:1-9]] - David's response to Doeg.
- đź”— [[Psalm 142#Verse 01.|Psalm 142:1-7]] - A prayer from the cave.
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 01#Verse 26.|1 Corinthians 1:26-29]] - God chooses the weak and lowly.
- đź”— [[Matthew 11#Verse 28.|Matthew 11:28-30]] - Come to Me, all who are weary.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[1 Samuel 22 - SOAP|Look for Allies]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes