1Sam 22
1
And David departed thence, and escaped; and he comes to the cave of Odollam, and his
brethren hear, and the house of his father, and they go down to him there.
2
And there gathered to him every one that was in distress, and every one that was in
debt, and every one that was troubled in mind; and he was a leader over them, and
there were with him about four hundred men.
3
And David departed thence to Massephath of Moab, and said to the king of Moab, Let,
I pray you, my father and my mother be with you, until I know what God will do to
me.
4
And he persuaded Gr. the face of the king the King of Moab, and they dwell with him continually, while David was in the hold.
5
And Gad the prophet said to David, Dwell not in the hold: go, and you shall enter
the land of Juda. So David went, and came and dwelt in the city of Saric.
6
And Saul heard that David was discovered, and his men with him: now Saul dwelt in
the hill below the field that is in Rama, and his spear was in his hand, and all his
servants stood near him.
7
And Saul said to his servants that stood by him, Hear now, you sons of Benjamin, will
the son of Jessae indeed give all of you fields and vineyards, and will he make you
all captains of hundreds and captains of thousands?
8
That you are conspiring against me, and there is no one that informs me, whereas my
son has made a covenant with the son of Jessae, and there is no one of you that Gr. labours is sorry for me, or informs me,
that my son has stirred up my servant against me
for an enemy, as it is this day?
9
And Doec the Syrian who was over the mules of Saul Gr. answers answered and said, I saw the son of Jessae as he came to Nomba
to Abimelech son of
Achitob the priest.
10
And the priest enquired of God for him, and gave him provision, and gave him the sword
of Goliath the Philistine.
11
And the king sent to call Abimelech son of Achitob and all his father’s sons, the
priests that were in Nomba; and they all came to the king.
12
And Saul said, Hear now, you son of Achitob. And he said, Behold! I am here, speak,
my lord.
13
And Saul said to him, Why have you and the son of Jessae conspired against me, that
you should give him bread and a sword, and should enquire of God for him, to raise
him up against me as an enemy, as he is this day?
14
And he answered the king, and said, And who is there among all your servants faithful
as David, and he is a son-in-law of the king, and he is executor of all your commands,
and is honourable in your house?
15
Have I begun to-day to enquire of God for him? By no means: let not the king bring
a charge against his servant, and against you whole of my father’s house; for your
servant knew not in all these matters anything great or small.
16
And king Saul said, You shall surely die, Abimelech, you, and all your father’s house.
17
And the king said to the footmen that attended on him, Draw nigh and slay the priests
of the Lord, because their hand is with David, and because they knew that Gr. flees he fled, and they did not inform me. But
the servants of the king would not lift
their hands to fall upon the priest of the Lord.
18
And the king said to Doec, Turn you, and fall upon the priests: and Doec the Syrian
turned, and slew the priests of the Lord in that day, three hundred and five men,
all wearing Alex. a linen ephod an ephod.
19
And he smote Nomba the city of the priest with the edge of the sword, both man, and
woman, infant and suckling, and calf, and ox, and sheep.
20
And one son of Abimelech son of Achitob escapes, and his name was Abiathar, and he
fled after David.
21
And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain all the priests of the Lord.
22
And David said to Abiathar, I knew it in that day, that Doec the Syrian would surely
tell Saul: I am guilty of the Gr. souls or lives death of the house of your father.
23
Dwell with me; fear not, for wherever I shall seek a place of safety for my life,
I will also seek a place for your life, for you are safely guarded while with me.