1 Samuel 22 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Saul’s Increasing Paranoia

22 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam.(A) When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. 2 In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.(B)

3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.

5 Then the prophet Gad(C) said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree(D) at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. 7 Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?(E) 8 That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son.(F) None of you cares about me(G) or tells me that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”

9 Then Doeg the Edomite,(H) who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered, “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.(I) 10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him(J) and gave him provisions.(K) He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”(L)

Slaughter of the Priests

11 The king sent messengers to summon the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”

“I’m at your service,(M) my lord,” he said.

13 Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.”(N)

14 Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David?(O) He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was today the first time I inquired of God for him?(P) Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s family, for your servant didn’t have any idea[a] about all this.”

16 But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech—you and your father’s whole family!”

17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord(Q) because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.

18 So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men(R) who wore linen ephods.(S) 19 He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword—both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.(T)

20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar,(U) and he fled to David.(V) 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite(W) was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for[b] the lives of everyone in your father’s family. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life.(X) You will be safe with me.”

Footnotes

  1. 22:15 Lit didn’t know a thing, small or large
  2. 22:22 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads I myself turn in

Cross references

  1. 22:1 : Ps 57; Ps 142
  2. 22:2 : 1Sm 23:13; 25:13
  3. 22:5 : 1Ch 21:9; 29:29; 2Ch 29:25
  4. 22:6 : Jdg 4:5; 1Sm 14:2
  5. 22:7 : 1Sm 8:12
  6. 22:8 : 1Sm 18:3; 20:16
  7. 22:8 : 1Sm 23:21
  8. 22:9 : Ps 52
  9. 22:9 : 1Sm 21:1; Ps 52
  10. 22:10 : 1Sm 10:22
  11. 22:10 : 1Sm 21:6,9
  12. 22:10 : 1Sm 21:2–9
  13. 22:12 : 1Sm 3:4–6; 2Sm 1:7
  14. 22:13 : 1Sm 22:8
  15. 22:14 : 1Sm 19:4–5
  16. 22:15 : 2Sm 5:19,23
  17. 22:17 : 2Kg 10:25; 2Ch 12:10
  18. 22:18 : 1Sm 2:31
  19. 22:18 : Ex 28:4; 1Sm 2:28
  20. 22:19 : 1Sm 2:18
  21. 22:20 : 1Sm 23:9; 30:7; 2Sm 2:1; 1Kg 2:26–27
  22. 22:20 : 1Sm 2:33
  23. 22:22 : 1Sm 21:7
  24. 22:23 : 1Kg 2:26

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1 Samuel 22 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

22 Therefore David went from thence, and fled into the den of Adullam (And so David went from there, and fled to the cave of Adullam); and when his brethren, and all the house of his father had heard this, they came down thither to him. 2 And all men that were set in anguish, and oppressed with othe...
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1 Samuel 22 - World English Bible (WEB)

22 David 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. 2 Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became captain o...
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1 Samuel 22 - The Voice (VOICE)

22 That is how David escaped, and from there, he went to the cave of Adullam to hide. When his brothers and the rest of his family heard he was there, they went down to be with him. 2 A group gathered around him, composed of those who were in debt or who were not content with Saul or who were in tr...
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1 Samuel 22 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Flight to a Cave and to Moab22 So David walked from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard about it, they went down there to him. 2 Anyone who was in distress, anyone in debt, and anyone embittered rallied around him, and he became their leader....
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1 Samuel 22 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

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1 Samuel 22 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David and His Followers at Adullam22 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And every one who was in distress, and every one who was in debt, and every one who was discontented, gathered...
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1 Samuel 22 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

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1 Samuel 22 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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1 Samuel 22 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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Religious Leaders Are Killed22 So David left there and ran to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all those of his father’s house heard about it, they went down there to him. 2 Then everyone who was in trouble, everyone who owed money, and everyone who was not happy with the way he was livin...
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1 Samuel 22 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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1 Samuel 22 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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1 Samuel 22 - New International Version (NIV)

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