1 So David departed from there and APs 57: titleescaped to BJosh 12:15; 15:35; 2 Sam 23:13; Ps 142: titlethe cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s household heard of it, they went down there to him. 2 Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who 1Lit had a creditorwas in debt, and everyone who was 2Lit bitter of souldiscontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were A1 Sam 23:13; 25:13about four hundred men with him.

3 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” 4 Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5 A2 Sam 24:11; 1 Chr 21:9; 29:29; 2 Chr 29:25The prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

6 Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now AJudg 4:5; 1 Sam 14:2Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. 7 Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, O Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards? A1 Sam 8:12; 1 Chr 12:16-18Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8  “For all of you have conspired against me so that there is no one who 1Lit uncovers my eardiscloses to me A1 Sam 18:3; 20:16when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you B1 Sam 23:21who is sorry for me or 1Lit uncovers my eardiscloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush, as it is this day.” 9 Then APs 52: titleDoeg the Edomite, who was 1Or set overstanding by the servants of Saul, said, “B1 Sam 21:1I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to C1 Sam 14:3; 21:1Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10  “ANum 27:21; 1 Sam 10:22He inquired of the Loʀᴅ for him, B1 Sam 21:6gave him provisions, and C1 Sam 21:9gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent someone to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s household, the priests who were in Nob; and all of them came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” And he 1Lit saidanswered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 Saul then said to him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he would rise up against me A1 Sam 22:8by lying in ambush as it is this day?”

14 A1 Sam 19:4, 5; 20:32Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king’s son-in-law, who 1So with Gr; Heb turns aside tois captain over your guard, and is honored in your house? 15  “Did I just begin A2 Sam 5:19, 23to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! B2 Sam 19:18, 19Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any of the household of my father, for your servant knows nothing 1Lit small or greatat all of this whole affair.” 16 But the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s household!” 17 And A2 Kin 10:25the king said to the 1Lit runnersguards who were attending him, “Turn around and put the priests of the Loʀᴅ to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not 2Lit uncover my earreveal it to me.” But the BEx 1:17servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to 3Lit fall uponattack the priests of the Loʀᴅ. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn around and 1Lit smiteattack the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned around and 2Lit smoteattacked the priests, and A1 Sam 2:31he killed that day eighty-five men B1 Sam 2:18who wore the linen ephod. 19 And A1 Sam 15:3he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; also oxen, donkeys, and sheep he struck with the edge of the sword.

20 But A1 Sam 23:6, 9; 30:7; 1 Kin 2:26, 27one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, B1 Sam 23:6escaped and fled after David. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Loʀᴅ. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when A1 Sam 21:7Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought about the death of every person in your father’s household. 23  “Stay with me; do not be afraid, for A1 Kin 2:26he who seeks my life seeks your life, for you are 1Lit a chargesafe with me.”