1 Samuel Chapter 22 — David's Flight and the Tragedy at Nob
David escapes to the cave of Adullam where he gathers a group of followers, while King Saul orders the execution of the priests at Nob for helping David.
1David therefore departed from there and escaped to Adullam’s cave. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
2Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them. There were with him about four hundred men.
3David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come out to you, until I know what God will do for me.”
4He brought them before the king of Moab; and they lived with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
5The prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Depart, and go into the land of Judah.”
6Saul heard that David was discovered, with the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
7Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?
8Is that why all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a treaty with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”
9Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10He inquired of the LORD for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob; and they all came to the king.
12Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.”
13Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”
14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your body guard, and honored in your house?
15Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me! Don’t let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.”
16The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.”
17The king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled and didn’t disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king wouldn’t put out their hand to fall on the priests of the LORD.
18The king said to Doeg, “Turn and attack the priests!”
19He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword—both men and women, children and nursing babies, and cattle, donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
21Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD’s priests.
22David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house.
23Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
1 Samuel 22:2
“Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them. There were with him about four hundred men.”
This verse describes the humble and marginalized origins of the community that first gathered around David during his exile.
1 Samuel 22:23
“Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”
This demonstrates David's commitment to protecting the survivors of Saul's wrath and highlights the shared danger between David and the priesthood.
Chapter Summary
David flees to the Cave of Adullam, where he is joined by his family and a group of four hundred men who are in distress or discontented. To protect his parents, David secures their safety with the king of Moab before returning to Judah on the advice of the prophet Gad. Meanwhile, King Saul becomes increasingly paranoid, accusing his servants of conspiring against him with his son Jonathan. Doeg the Edomite informs Saul that Ahimelech the priest assisted David at Nob by providing food and Goliath's sword. Saul summons Ahimelech and the other priests, accusing them of treason. Despite Ahimelech's defense of David's loyalty, Saul orders their execution. When Saul's guards refuse to strike the priests, Doeg carries out the massacre, killing eighty-five priests and destroying the city of Nob. Abiathar, the only son of Ahimelech to escape, joins David and receives his protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
David fled to the cave of Adullam to escape King Saul’s pursuit. While there, he was joined by his family and about four hundred men who were struggling or dissatisfied with Saul's rule.
Doeg was the chief of Saul’s herdsmen who witnessed Ahimelech helping David. He reported this to Saul and later carried out the execution of the priests when Saul's own guards refused to do so.
After Saul ordered the death of the priests, Doeg the Edomite attacked Nob, the city of the priests. He killed the men, women, children, and livestock with the edge of the sword.
Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, was the only one who managed to escape the slaughter. He fled to David, who took responsibility for the tragedy and promised to keep him safe.
Study Note
The gathering of the 'distressed' and 'discontented' around David at Adullam marks a transition from David as a lone fugitive to David as a leader of a developing community.
Related Chapters
1 Samuel 21
This chapter describes David's initial arrival at Nob and his interaction with Ahimelech which led to the events in Chapter 22.
1 Samuel 23
Following the escape of Abiathar, David continues his flight and seeks God's guidance through the surviving priest.
Psalm 52
This Psalm is traditionally associated with Doeg the Edomite’s betrayal of David to Saul as recorded in this chapter.
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