1 Samuel 22
David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh
1So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
1And David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And his brothers heard it, and all the house of his father, and they went down to him there.
2And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
2And gathered to him every man in distress, and every man who himself was indebted, and everyone bitter in soul, and he was captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
3From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother staya with you until I learn what God will do for me.”
3And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, until that I know what God will do for me.”
5Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
5And Gad the prophet said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” And David departed and entered the forest of Hereth.
Saul Slays the Priests of Nob
6Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.
6And Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had become known. And Saul was staying in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height, and his spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
7Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?
7And Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Listen now, sons of Benjamin! Even to all of you will the son of Jesse give fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?
8Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
8For you have all conspired against me, and there is no one uncovering my ear that my son has cut in with the son of Jesse. And none of you has shown concern for me or uncovered to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait as this day.”
11Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.
11And the king sent to call Ahimelech son of Ahitub the priest, and all the house of his father, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king.
13And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”
13And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in your giving to him bread and a sword and inquiring for him of God, that he should rise against me to lie in wait, as this day?”
14Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?
14And Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, and son-in-law of the king, and has turned aside at your council, and is honorable in your house?
15Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”
15Today did I begin to inquire for him of God? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this matter, small or great.”
17Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.”
But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
17And the king said to the guards who stood beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of YHWH, because their hands are also with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of YHWH.
18So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!”
And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
18And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you and kill the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he himself attacked the priests. And he killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.
19He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
19And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the mouth of the sword, from men and to women, from children and to nursing infants, and oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, with the mouth of the sword.
22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.
22And David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself have turned against every soul of the house of your father.