
Text -- 1 Samuel 22:14-23 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: 1Sa 22:14 - -- He doth not determine the difference between Saul and David; nor affirm what David now was: but only declared what David formerly had been, and what h...
He doth not determine the difference between Saul and David; nor affirm what David now was: but only declared what David formerly had been, and what he was still, for anything he knew to the contrary.

Wesley: 1Sa 22:18 - -- This is noted to wipe off the stain of this butchery from the Israelitish nation, and to shew, why he was so ready to do it, because he was one of tha...
This is noted to wipe off the stain of this butchery from the Israelitish nation, and to shew, why he was so ready to do it, because he was one of that nation which had an implacable hatred against all Israelites, and against the priests of the Lord.

Wesley: 1Sa 22:19 - -- _In all the life of Saul, there is no wickedness to be compared to this. He appears now to be wholly under the power of that evil spirit which had lon...
_In all the life of Saul, there is no wickedness to be compared to this. He appears now to be wholly under the power of that evil spirit which had long tormented him. And this destruction could not but go to the heart of every pious Israelite, and make them wish a thousand times, they had been content with the government of Samuel.

Who by his father's death was now high-priest.
JFB: 1Sa 22:17-18 - -- His bodyguard, or his runners (1Sa 8:11; 2Sa 15:1; 1Ki 1:5; 1Ki 14:28), who held an important place at court (2Ch 12:10). But they chose rather to dis...
His bodyguard, or his runners (1Sa 8:11; 2Sa 15:1; 1Ki 1:5; 1Ki 14:28), who held an important place at court (2Ch 12:10). But they chose rather to disobey the king than to offend God by imbruing their hands in the blood of his ministering servants. A foreigner alone (Psa 52:1-3) could be found willing to be the executioner of this bloody and sacrilegious sentence. Thus was the doom of the house of Eli fulfilled [1Sa 2:30-36].

JFB: 1Sa 22:19 - -- The barbarous atrocities perpetrated against this city seem to have been designed to terrify all the subjects of Saul from affording either aid or an ...
The barbarous atrocities perpetrated against this city seem to have been designed to terrify all the subjects of Saul from affording either aid or an asylum to David. But they proved ruinous to Saul's own interest, as they alienated the priesthood and disgusted all good men in the kingdom.

JFB: 1Sa 22:20-23 - -- This was Abiathar, who repaired to David in the forest of Hareth, rescuing, with his own life, the high priest's vestments (1Sa 23:6, 1Sa 23:9). On he...
This was Abiathar, who repaired to David in the forest of Hareth, rescuing, with his own life, the high priest's vestments (1Sa 23:6, 1Sa 23:9). On hearing his sad tale, David declared that he had dreaded such a fatal result from the malice and intriguing ambition of Doeg; and, accusing himself as having been the occasion of all the disaster to Abiathar's family, David invited him to remain, because, firmly trusting himself in the accomplishment of the divine promise, David could guarantee protection to him.
Clarke: 1Sa 22:14 - -- And who is so faithful - The word נאמן neeman , which we here translate faithful, is probably the name of an officer. See the note on Num 12:7.
And who is so faithful - The word

Clarke: 1Sa 22:15 - -- Did I then begin to inquire of God - He probably means that his inquiring now for David was no new thing, having often done so before, and without e...
Did I then begin to inquire of God - He probably means that his inquiring now for David was no new thing, having often done so before, and without ever being informed it was either wrong in itself, or displeasing to the king. Nor is it likely that Ahimelech knew of any disagreement between Saul and David. He knew him to be the king’ s son-in-law, and he treated him as such.

Clarke: 1Sa 22:17 - -- But the servants of the king would not - They dared to disobey the commands of the king in a case of such injustice, inhumanity, and irreligion.
But the servants of the king would not - They dared to disobey the commands of the king in a case of such injustice, inhumanity, and irreligion.

Clarke: 1Sa 22:18 - -- And Doeg - fell upon the priests - A ruthless Edomite, capable of any species of iniquity
And Doeg - fell upon the priests - A ruthless Edomite, capable of any species of iniquity

Clarke: 1Sa 22:18 - -- Fourscore and five persons - The Septuagint read τριακοσιους και πεντε ανδρας, three hundred and five men; and Josephus ha...
Fourscore and five persons - The Septuagint read

Clarke: 1Sa 22:18 - -- That did wear a linen ephod - That is, persons who did actually administer, or had a right to administer, in sacred things. The linen ephod was the ...
That did wear a linen ephod - That is, persons who did actually administer, or had a right to administer, in sacred things. The linen ephod was the ordinary clothing of the priests.

Clarke: 1Sa 22:19 - -- And Nob - smote he with the edge of the sword - This is one of the worst acts in the life of Saul; his malice was implacable, and his wrath was crue...
And Nob - smote he with the edge of the sword - This is one of the worst acts in the life of Saul; his malice was implacable, and his wrath was cruel, and there is no motive of justice or policy by which such a barbarous act can be justified.

Clarke: 1Sa 22:20 - -- Abiathar, escaped - This man carried with him his sacerdotal garments, as we find from 1Sa 23:6, 1Sa 23:9.

Clarke: 1Sa 22:22 - -- I knew it that day - When I saw Doeg there, I suspected he would make the matter known to Saul
I knew it that day - When I saw Doeg there, I suspected he would make the matter known to Saul

Clarke: 1Sa 22:22 - -- I have occasioned the death of all the persons - I have been the innocent cause of their destruction.
I have occasioned the death of all the persons - I have been the innocent cause of their destruction.

Clarke: 1Sa 22:23 - -- He that seeketh my life seeketh thy life - The enmity of Saul is directed against thee as well as against me, and thou canst have no safety but in b...
He that seeketh my life seeketh thy life - The enmity of Saul is directed against thee as well as against me, and thou canst have no safety but in being closely attached to me; and I will defend thee even at the risk of my own life. This he was bound in duty and conscience to do.
Defender: 1Sa 22:20 - -- Abiathar had apparently been with his father Ahimelech when David and his men received the showbread from them (Mar 2:26). Abiathar became David's pri...

Defender: 1Sa 22:21 - -- Saul continues to compound his sin, begun so innocuously by acting as a priest (1Sa 13:9), by now murdering an entire city of priests (1Sa 22:19). How...
TSK: 1Sa 22:14 - -- And who : 1Sa 19:4, 1Sa 19:5, 1Sa 20:32, 1Sa 24:11, 1Sa 26:23; 2Sa 22:23-25; Pro 24:11, Pro 24:12, Pro 31:8, Pro 31:9
the king’ s : 1Sa 22:13, 1S...

TSK: 1Sa 22:15 - -- Did I then : He seems to intimate, that his enquiring now for David was no new thing, having often done so before, without ever being informed it was ...
Did I then : He seems to intimate, that his enquiring now for David was no new thing, having often done so before, without ever being informed it was wrong in itself or displeasing to the king., the servant, Gen 20:5, Gen 20:6; 2Sa 15:11; 2Co 1:12; 1Pe 3:16, 1Pe 3:17
less or more : Heb. little or great, 1Sa 25:36

TSK: 1Sa 22:16 - -- Thou shalt : 1Sa 14:44, 1Sa 20:31; 1Ki 18:4, 1Ki 19:2; Pro 28:15; Dan 2:5, Dan 2:12, Dan 3:19, Dan 3:20; Act 12:19
and : Deu 24:16; Est 3:6; Mat 2:16

TSK: 1Sa 22:17 - -- footmen : or, guard, Heb. runners, 1Sa 8:11; 2Sa 15:1; 1Ki 1:5
slay the priests : 1Sa 22:13, 1Sa 20:33, 1Sa 25:17; 1Ki 18:4
would not : 1Sa 14:45; Exo...

TSK: 1Sa 22:18 - -- Doeg : 1Sa 22:9
he fell : 2Ch 24:21; Hos 5:11, Hos 7:3; Mic 6:16; Zep 3:3; Act 26:10, Act 26:11
fourscore : The LXX read, τριακοσιους κ...
Doeg : 1Sa 22:9
he fell : 2Ch 24:21; Hos 5:11, Hos 7:3; Mic 6:16; Zep 3:3; Act 26:10, Act 26:11
fourscore : The LXX read,

TSK: 1Sa 22:19 - -- Nob : 1Sa 22:9, 1Sa 22:11, 1Sa 21:1; Neh 11:32; Isa 10:32
men : 1Sa 15:3, 1Sa 15:9; Jos 6:17, Jos 6:21; Hos 10:14; Jam 2:13
with the edge : This is on...
Nob : 1Sa 22:9, 1Sa 22:11, 1Sa 21:1; Neh 11:32; Isa 10:32
men : 1Sa 15:3, 1Sa 15:9; Jos 6:17, Jos 6:21; Hos 10:14; Jam 2:13
with the edge : This is one of the worst acts of Saul’ s lifecaps1 . hcaps0 is malice was implacable, and his wrath cruel; and there is no motive of justice or policy by which such a barbarous massacre can be justified.

TSK: 1Sa 22:20 - -- one : 1Sa 23:6, 1Sa 30:7; 2Sa 20:25; 1Ki 2:26, 1Ki 2:27
escaped : 1Sa 2:33, 1Sa 4:12; Job 1:15-17, Job 1:19

TSK: 1Sa 22:23 - -- he that seeketh : 1Ki 2:26; Mat 24:9; Joh 15:20, Joh 16:2, Joh 16:3; Heb 12:1-3
but with me : Joh 10:28-30, Joh 17:12, Joh 18:9
he that seeketh : 1Ki 2:26; Mat 24:9; Joh 15:20, Joh 16:2, Joh 16:3; Heb 12:1-3
but with me : Joh 10:28-30, Joh 17:12, Joh 18:9

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes: 1Sa 22:14 - -- Goeth at thy bidding - Better, "has access to thy (private) audience,"or council (compare 2Sa 23:23, margin).
Goeth at thy bidding - Better, "has access to thy (private) audience,"or council (compare 2Sa 23:23, margin).

Barnes: 1Sa 22:15 - -- Did I then begin ... - Some lay the stress upon the word "begin,"as though Ahimelech’ s justification was that he had often before inquire...
Did I then begin ... - Some lay the stress upon the word "begin,"as though Ahimelech’ s justification was that he had often before inquired of the Lord for David when employed on the king’ s affairs. But it is much better to understand the words as Ahimelech’ s solemn denial of having inquired of the Lord for David, a duty which he owed to Saul alone as king of Israel. The force of the word "begin"lies in this, that it would have been his first act of allegiance to David and defection from Saul. This he strenuously repudiates, and adds, "thy servant knew nothing of all this"conspiracy between Jonathan and David of which Saul speaks: he had acted quite innocently.

Barnes: 1Sa 22:18 - -- We are not to suppose that Doeg killed them all with his own hand. He had a band of men under his command, many or all of whom were perhaps foreigne...
We are not to suppose that Doeg killed them all with his own hand. He had a band of men under his command, many or all of whom were perhaps foreigners like himself, and very likely of a Bedouin caste, to whom bloodshed would be quite natural, and the priests of the Lord of no more account than so Early sheep or oxen.

Barnes: 1Sa 22:19 - -- Both men and women ... - The language employed in the case of the Amalekites 1Sa 15:3 and of Jericho Jos 6:21. Nothing could be more truculent ...

Barnes: 1Sa 22:20 - -- Abiathar - He may have remained at Nob to take care of the sanctuary when the other priests went to Saul, and so escaped. He continued David...
Abiathar - He may have remained at Nob to take care of the sanctuary when the other priests went to Saul, and so escaped. He continued David’ s faithful friend throughout his reign 1Sa 23:9; 1Sa 30:7; 2Sa 15:24, 2Sa 15:29, 2Sa 15:35, but gave offence by taking Adonijah’ s part against Solomon 1Ki 1:7, 1Ki 1:19, 1Ki 1:42, and in consequence was deprived of the high priesthood 1Ki 2:26-27. In Mar 2:26, he is spoken of as the High Priest who gave the showbread to David. Perhaps he was the instigator of this act of kindness to David; and for this cause, as well as his constancy to David, is mentioned by our Lord instead of Ahimelech. It is also possible that, as sagan to his father, he may have performed most of the priestly functions, as Hophni and Phinehas did in the lifetime of Eli. Abiathar did not actually join David until he went to Keilah (marginal reference).

Barnes: 1Sa 22:23 - -- The characteristic generosity of David’ s disposition breaks out in these words. He never forgot a friend. (Compare 2Sa 1:26; 2Sa 9:1, etc.) Da...
Poole: 1Sa 22:14 - -- He doth not determine the differences between Saul and David, nor affirm what David now was; but only declared what David had formerly been, both re...
He doth not determine the differences between Saul and David, nor affirm what David now was; but only declared what David had formerly been, both really, and in public fame and opinion.

Poole: 1Sa 22:15 - -- Any thing or, this thing , to wit, which thou now chargest me with, that I should assist David in any evil design against thee.
Thy servant knew no...
Any thing or, this thing , to wit, which thou now chargest me with, that I should assist David in any evil design against thee.
Thy servant knew nothing of all this or, of thy suspicion concerning him. For as for Saul’ s attempts upon David, well might Ahimelech impute them wholly to the violence of Saul’ s passion and disease, seeing even Jonathan did so, as may be gathered from 1Sa 20:2 .

Poole: 1Sa 22:17 - -- Choosing rather to offend the king, by disobeying his wicked and bloody command, than to offend God, by shedding the blood of such innocent and sacr...
Choosing rather to offend the king, by disobeying his wicked and bloody command, than to offend God, by shedding the blood of such innocent and sacred persons.

Poole: 1Sa 22:18 - -- Turn thou or, go about , to wit, from man to man, till thou hast killed all.
The Edomite which is noted to wipe off the stain of this butchery fro...
Turn thou or, go about , to wit, from man to man, till thou hast killed all.
The Edomite which is noted to wipe off the stain of this butchery from the Israelitish nation, and to show why he was so ready to do it, because he was one of that nation which had an implacable hatred against all Israelites, and against the priests of the Lord.
Slew on that day fourscore and five persons with his own hand; which was not difficult, when no resistance was made.
That did wear a linen ephod not at that time, as some fancy, but usually; such as used to minister to the Lord in a linen ephod, which priests and Levites used to do. See Exo 28:40 , &c.; 1Sa 2:18 .

Poole: 1Sa 22:19 - -- He either Saul, or Doeg, with the help of some others whom Saul appointed to that work. By this barbarous and bloody fact Saul thought to affright al...
He either Saul, or Doeg, with the help of some others whom Saul appointed to that work. By this barbarous and bloody fact Saul thought to affright all his subjects from giving any countenance or assistance to David.

Poole: 1Sa 22:20 - -- Abiathar by his father’ s death, was now high priest,
Fled after David to Keilah, 1Sa 23:6,7 .
Abiathar by his father’ s death, was now high priest,
Fled after David to Keilah, 1Sa 23:6,7 .

I knew it his malice and ambition made me suspect that he would do it.

Poole: 1Sa 22:23 - -- Because God will certainly preserve me to the kingdom which he hath promised; and I by his help will protect thee.
Because God will certainly preserve me to the kingdom which he hath promised; and I by his help will protect thee.
Haydock: 1Sa 22:14 - -- Faithful....and honourable, are titles given to people of great distinction at court, chap. ix. 6., Numbers xii. 7., and Genesis xxxiv. 19.
Faithful....and honourable, are titles given to people of great distinction at court, chap. ix. 6., Numbers xii. 7., and Genesis xxxiv. 19.

Haydock: 1Sa 22:17 - -- Messengers. Hebrew, "runners." These officers remained at court and were people of great account, (Calmet) like the king's guards, 2 Kings xv. 1., ...
Messengers. Hebrew, "runners." These officers remained at court and were people of great account, (Calmet) like the king's guards, 2 Kings xv. 1., and 3 Kings i. 5. (Haydock) ---
Lord, out of reverence, and being convinced of their innocence. (Menochius) ---
The obedience which we owe to superiors is subordinate to that which we must always shew towards God and justice. (Calmet) ---
Saul unjustly condemned them as the abettors of his competitor. (Worthington)

Haydock: 1Sa 22:18 - -- Five. Josephus read "385." Septuagint, "305." ---
Ephod. They all appeared in this dress, as they were priests. (Calmet) ---
It was different ...
Five. Josephus read "385." Septuagint, "305." ---
Ephod. They all appeared in this dress, as they were priests. (Calmet) ---
It was different from the sacred ephod. (Abulensis) ---
Thus the posterity of Heli was almost entirely cut off, as God had threatened, chap. ii. (Du Hamel; Tirinus)

Haydock: 1Sa 22:19 - -- Sword. Saul, now abandoned God, acts against all law. He probably, on this occasion, destroyed the inhabitants of Gabaon, to make place for the tab...
Sword. Saul, now abandoned God, acts against all law. He probably, on this occasion, destroyed the inhabitants of Gabaon, to make place for the tabernacle, which was removed hither. (Calmet) See chap. xxvii. 12. ---
He might also appoint Achitob high priest, the father of Sadoc, who supplanted Abiathar, 1 Paralipomenon xii., and xvi. 29. (Tirinus)

Haydock: 1Sa 22:20 - -- Escaped. He had perhaps remained at Nobe, to do duty. (Menochius) ---
God was pleased to reserve him, (Calmet) to convey the sacred ornaments of t...
Escaped. He had perhaps remained at Nobe, to do duty. (Menochius) ---
God was pleased to reserve him, (Calmet) to convey the sacred ornaments of the high priest to David. (Haydock) ---
St. Bachiarius looks upon the slaughtered priests as martyrs. (Tirinus)

Haydock: 1Sa 22:22 - -- House. Literally, "I am guilty," &c. (Haydock) ---
"Good people acknowledge a fault, where there is none." (St. Gregory) ---
David was aware of ...
House. Literally, "I am guilty," &c. (Haydock) ---
"Good people acknowledge a fault, where there is none." (St. Gregory) ---
David was aware of the malicious temper of Doeg, but he could not prevent its evil effects, as he had applied to the high priest without perceiving that he was there. (Haydock) ---
He received Abiathar at Ceila, which he had protected against the Philistines, chap. xxii.

Haydock: 1Sa 22:23 - -- Saved. We will be as one soul. On this occasion David composed the 51st Psalm, Quid gloriaris, to reprobate the conduct of Doeg. (Salien) ---
W...
Saved. We will be as one soul. On this occasion David composed the 51st Psalm, Quid gloriaris, to reprobate the conduct of Doeg. (Salien) ---
We may consider David as the fourth in order of the sacred writers, as he appears after Moses, Josue, and Samuel. (Haydock)
Gill: 1Sa 22:14 - -- Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said,.... First with respect to David, and then with regard to himself; with respect to David as follows:
and...
Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said,.... First with respect to David, and then with regard to himself; with respect to David as follows:
and who is so faithful amongst thy servants as David; I considered him, as if he should say, as a servant of thine, upon an errand of thine, and doing thy business; and as a faithful one, none more so, and as such I valued and regarded him, not as a rebel to thee, having no such thought of him:
which is the king's son in law; who has behaved himself so well, and thou hast entertained such an opinion of him, as to take him into thy family, and marry thy daughter to him; wherefore showing him favour, and doing him honour, was doing honour to thee and thy family, and surely there can be no blame in that:
and goeth at thy bidding; has always been ready to execute thy commands, and obey thine orders, let them be what they will; as to go out against an enemy, and fight Saul's battles for him:
and is honourable in thine house? behaved honourably there, and highly esteemed by all, as well as had the honour bestowed upon him to be the king's son-in-law, and made captain of a thousand; and therefore who could think that showing respect to such a man could be deemed treason and conspiracy, or he be thought to be a traitor to the king? and then with respect to himself he answers,

Gill: 1Sa 22:15 - -- Did I then begin to inquire of God for him?.... Was this the first time of inquiring of God for him? no; I have done this many a time, when he has bee...
Did I then begin to inquire of God for him?.... Was this the first time of inquiring of God for him? no; I have done this many a time, when he has been going upon the king's business, engaging in war with his enemies; he has then consulted the Lord by me, and I have inquired of the Lord for him, as I now did; and which I did as innocently, and as much for the king's service, as ever I did any. Kimchi observes it may be read without the interrogation, "that day I began to inquire of God for him"; it was the first time I ever did, and I did not know it would have been grievous to thee, or have given thee any disturbance or uneasiness. I did not know that he fled from thee, or was not in thy service, and upon thy business; had I known it, I would never have done it, and as it is the first time it shall be the last:
be it far from me; from doing such a thing, had I known it to be disagreeable to thee, or how David stood with thee:
let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; charge me or them with the crime of treason, or conspiracy against him, or with aiding:, assisting, and abetting traitors and conspirators:
for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more; was entirely ignorant of this affair; which plain, honest, account of things, one might have thought, would have been satisfying to Saul; but it seems it was not by what follows.

Gill: 1Sa 22:16 - -- And the king said, thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech,.... He pronounces the sentence himself, without taking the opinion and advice of others, or furth...
And the king said, thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech,.... He pronounces the sentence himself, without taking the opinion and advice of others, or further time; which was an act of arbitrary power, and upon an innocent person, which was an act of great injustice:
thou, and all thy father's house; more unrighteous still; but God suffered him to do this to fulfil his will, and execute his threatenings against the house of Eli, which was this priest's father's house, for former wickedness; but this is no excuse for, nor extenuation of the sin of, Saul.

Gill: 1Sa 22:17 - -- And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him,.... Or the "runners" f; the running footmen, that used to run before him when he went out fro...
And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him,.... Or the "runners" f; the running footmen, that used to run before him when he went out from place to place, and were here waiting on him, ready to set out whenever he should give the orders to go elsewhere. The tradition of the Jews is, that these were Abner and Amasa g; but, as Kimchi observes, they were not footmen, but princes, captains in the army, and the first of them the general of it:
turn and slay the priests of the Lord; he owns them to be the priests of the Lord, and calls them so, and yet gave orders to put them to death, though innocent; one would have thought this their character would have flown in his face, and stung his conscience, and deterred him from so foul a fact:
because their hand also is with David; as well as Ahimelech; which did not at all appear, nor that they had so much as seen him at Nob, only Ahimelech; and still less that they had entered into a conspiracy with him:
and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me; which also was false; they knew nothing of the flight of David, and therefore could not discover it to the king:
but the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord; their consciences would not suffer them to do it; they refused to obey the king's orders, and chose rather to expose themselves to his resentment, than to be guilty of such a crime. Saul's footmen had more sense of honour, justice, and truth, than he himself had, and were worthy of praise; but they would have been deserving of more, if they could not have prevailed upon him by entreaties and remonstrances to have forborne such a bloody execution, instead of being the tame spectators of it, they had taken him, and bound him as a madman, and so facilitated the escape of the priests, and prevented this shocking scene of wickedness.

Gill: 1Sa 22:18 - -- And the king said to Doeg, turn thou and fall upon the priests,.... For determined he was they should die; if one would not put them to death, another...
And the king said to Doeg, turn thou and fall upon the priests,.... For determined he was they should die; if one would not put them to death, another should, and who so fit for this bloody work as the false accuser of them, and false witness against them?
and Doeg the Edomite turned; immediately, he at once obeyed the king's orders, as brutish as they were:
and fell upon the priests; with his sword in hand:
and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod; not the ephod of Urim and Thummim, which was only worn by the high priest, but a garment wholly linen, worn by common priests; the Targum is,"who are fit to be clothed with a linen ephod;''not that they were clothed with it, but were deserving of it; or it designs the great and more honourable among the servants of the Lord, as Kimchi observes, for such were clothed with this garment, as Samuel and David; and he thinks it suggests, that more were slain than these; and the Septuagint version makes them to be eight hundred five, and Josephus h three hundred eighty five; in the slaying of whom, as the same writer says, Doeg was assisted by some wicked men like himself; and the slaughter did not end here, as the 1Sa 22:19 shows.

Gill: 1Sa 22:19 - -- And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword,.... Either Doeg or Saul; who, as Josephus i says, sent men thither to slay all ...
And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword,.... Either Doeg or Saul; who, as Josephus i says, sent men thither to slay all the inhabitants of it:
both men and women, children and sucklings; not sparing sex nor age:
and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword; Saul, who was so tender hearted and merciful in the case of the Amalekites, when his orders from the Lord were utterly to destroy them, 1Sa 15:2, that he spared their king, and the best of their cattle, 1Sa 15:7; yet now so cruel to a city of the priests, as to destroy all the inhabitants of it, and cattle in it; and yet this bloody affair of Saul's is not taken notice of afterwards, only his slaughter of the Gibeonites, 2Sa 21:1; and Abarbinel is of opinion, that the inhabitants of this place were Gibeonites, who were hewers of wood, and drawers of water, to the house of the Lord here, Jos 9:23. Now Saul was the more severe this city, to deter others from joining with David, who, if they did, must expect the same treatment.

Gill: 1Sa 22:20 - -- And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped,.... Who very probably was left by his father to take care of the sanctua...
And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped,.... Who very probably was left by his father to take care of the sanctuary, and the holy things in it, when he and the rest of the priests were summoned to appear before Saul; who having heard of his bloody execution of them, before his messengers could get to Nob, took, the ephod, with the Urim and Thummim, and made his escape, as appears from 1Sa 23:6; this man succeeded his father in the high priesthood, and continued in it until the times of Solomon:
and fled after David; who was now removed, or removing from the forest of Hareth to Keilah, whither Abiathar followed him, and came to him there, 1Sa 23:6, and with whom only he could be safe, and therefore it was right to flee unto him.

Gill: 1Sa 22:21 - -- And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests. Of which perhaps he had not as yet heard; though tidings of such a nature generally ...
And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests. Of which perhaps he had not as yet heard; though tidings of such a nature generally fly swiftly; and a sorrowful shocking account he had to give, and which was so to David.

Gill: 1Sa 22:22 - -- And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day,.... That is, he thought in his mind at that time:
when Doeg the Edomite was there; at Nob; in t...
And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day,.... That is, he thought in his mind at that time:
when Doeg the Edomite was there; at Nob; in the tabernacle, at the same time that David was there:
that he would surely tell Saul; that he saw David there, and what passed between him and Ahimelech; he knew he was a spiteful mischievous man; that he was a true Edomite, though a proselyte, and bore hatred and enmity in his mind against an Israelite, and especially an Israelite indeed, as David was:
I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house: or have been the cause of all the evils that befell them, and the death they were put unto, not with design, but by accident; and it grieved him that he should be any ways an accessory thereunto, though without intention.

Gill: 1Sa 22:23 - -- Abide thou with me, fear not,.... He appeared to be in a fright; which is not to be wondered at, as not knowing what to do, and where to go and provid...
Abide thou with me, fear not,.... He appeared to be in a fright; which is not to be wondered at, as not knowing what to do, and where to go and provide for his safety; when, to allay his fears, and make him easy, David invites and encourages him to stay with him, and not be afraid of Saul, nor any other:
for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life; or, as Kimchi observes, it may be interpreted, "my life he seeks who seeks thy life"; we are in the same circumstances, and have the same common enemy, and therefore it is best and safest to be together; as the Targum,"he that seeks to kill me seeks to kill thee;''and as Jarchi adds, he that loves me will love thee, and he that keeps my life will keep thine:
but with me thou shalt be in safeguard; intimating, that he would be as careful of him as of himself; and that for this reason, as Ben Gersom suggests, because he brought the ephod with the Urim and Thummim with him, by which he could inquire of God for him; but this was the thing David was confident of, that God would preserve him, and raise him to the kingdom, and therefore Abiathar might be sure of safety with him: at this time he penned the fifty second psalm, which shows the frame of spirit he was now in; see Psa 52:1.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes


NET Notes: 1Sa 22:18 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, a...

NET Notes: 1Sa 22:22 The translation follows the LXX, which reads “I am guilty,” rather than the MT, which has “I have turned.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 22:23 Or “the one who.” This may refer specifically to Saul, in which case David acknowledges that Abiathar’s life is endangered because o...
Geneva Bible: 1Sa 22:15 ( i ) Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute [any] thing unto his servant, [nor] to all the house of m...

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 22:17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also [is] with David, and because ...

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 22:20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, ( l ) escaped, and fled after David.
( l ) This was God's providence, who accordi...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> 1Sa 22:1-23
TSK Synopsis: 1Sa 22:1-23 - --1 Companies resort unto David at Adullam.3 At Mizpeh he commends his parents unto the king of Moab.5 Admonished by Gad, he comes to Hareth.6 Saul goin...
MHCC -> 1Sa 22:6-19; 1Sa 22:20-23
MHCC: 1Sa 22:6-19 - --See the nature of jealous malice and its pitiful arts. Saul looks upon all about him as his enemies, because they do not just say as he says. In Ahime...

MHCC: 1Sa 22:20-23 - --David greatly lamented the calamity. It is great trouble to a good man to find himself any way the cause of evil to others. He must have been much pai...
Matthew Henry -> 1Sa 22:6-19; 1Sa 22:20-23
Matthew Henry: 1Sa 22:6-19 - -- We have seen the progress of David's troubles; now here we have the progress of Saul's wickedness. He seems to have laid aside the thoughts of all o...

Matthew Henry: 1Sa 22:20-23 - -- Here is, 1. The escape of Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, out of the desolations of the priests' city. Probably when his father went to appear, upon...
Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 22:11-15 - --
On receiving this information, Saul immediately summoned the priestAhimelech and "all his father's house," i.e., the whole priesthood, to Nob,to ans...

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 22:16-17 - --
Notwithstanding this truthful assertion of his innocence, Saul pronouncedsentence of death, not only upon the high priest, but upon all the priestsa...

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 22:18 - --
Saul then commanded Doeg to cut down the priests, and he at onceperformed the bloody deed. On the expression "wearing the linen ephod," compare the ...

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 22:19 - --
But not content with even this revenge, Saul had the whole city of Nobdestroyed, like a city that was laid under the ban (vid., Deu 13:13.). Socompl...

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 22:20-23 - --
The only one of the whole body of priests who escaped this bloody deathwas a son of Ahimelech, named Abiathar, who "fled after David," i.e., toDavid...
Constable: 1Sa 16:1--31:13 - --IV. SAUL AND DAVID 1 Sam. 16--31
The basic theme in Samuel, that blessing, and in particular fertility of all ki...

Constable: 1Sa 21:1--30:31 - --C. David in Exile chs. 21-30
In chapters 21-30 we see David's forces growing stronger and stronger while...

Constable: 1Sa 21:1--22:23 - --1. David's initial movements chs. 21-22
"The two chapters comprise a literary unit of three sect...
