1 Samuel 22:11-23

22:11 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. 22:12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He replied, “Here I am, my lord.” 22:13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave ¹  him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes ²  me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!”

22:14 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! 22:15 Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse ³  his servant or any of my father’s house. For your servant is not aware of all this – not in whole or in part!” ⁴ 

22:16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house! 22:17 Then the king said to the messengers ⁵  who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided ⁶  with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm ⁷  the priests of the Lord.

22:18 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 ⁸  men who wore the linen ephod. 22:19 As for Nob, the city of the priests, he struck down with the sword men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep – all with the sword.

22:20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar. 22:21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22:22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I am guilty ⁹  of all the deaths in your father’s house! 22:23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid! Whoever ¹⁰  seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me.”

[22:13]  ¹ tn Heb “by giving.”

[22:13]  ² tn Heb “rises up against.”

[22:15]  ³ tn Heb “set a matter against.”

[22:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “small or great.”

[22:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “runners.”

[22:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “their hand is.”

[22:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “to extend their hand to harm.”

[22:18]  ⁸ tc The number is confused in the Greek ms tradition. The LXX, with the exception of the Lucianic recension, has the number 305. The Lucianic recension, along with a couple of Old Latin mss, has the number 350.

[22:22]  ⁹ tc The translation follows the LXX, which reads “I am guilty,” rather than the MT, which has “I have turned.”

[22:23]  ¹⁰ tn Or “the one who.” This may refer specifically to Saul, in which case David acknowledges that Abiathar’s life is endangered because of his allegiance to David. The translation assumes that the statement is more generalized, meaning that any enemy of Abiathar is an enemy of David. In other words, David promises that he will protect Abiathar with his very own life.