I Samuel 22 · The Lantern

David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh

And David went from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and his brothers and all his father’s house heard, and they went down to him there.

For if it is a bad thing to flee, it is much worse to persecute. The one party hides himself to escape death, the other persecutes with a desire to kill. It is written in the Scriptures that we ought to flee; but he that seeks to destroy transgresses the law and also is himself the occasion of the other's flight.

For the just engage in many struggles. Does an athlete contend only once? How often, after he has won many victor's crowns, is he overcome in another contest! How often it happens that one who has frequently gained the victory sometimes hesitates and is held fast in uncertainty!

(1 Samuel 22:1) Therefore David departed thence and fled to the cave of Adullam. Adullam is interpreted as "their testimony"; and the Lord, fleeing the hearts of the proud, enters as a welcome inhabitant into the spirits of the humble who possess nothing of earthly height or glory. Their very humility is a faithful testimony that they are worthy to receive Christ.

And there gathered to him every man in distress, and every man who had a creditor, and every man bitter of soul; and he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Let my father and my mother come out to be with you, please, until I know what God will do for me.”

And he led them before the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the days that David was in the stronghold.

And Gad the prophet said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go, and come into the land of Judah.” And David went, and came to the forest of Hereth.

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob

And Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was sitting at Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing around him.

And Saul said to his servants who were standing around him: “Listen now, you Benjaminites. Will the son of Jesse also give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?

For all of you have conspired against me, and no one uncovers my ear when my son cuts a covenant with the son of Jesse; and none of you is sick over me, or uncovers my ear that my son has raised up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.”

And Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with the servants of Saul, answered and said: “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him provisions; and the sword of Goliath the Philistine he gave him.”

And the king sent to call Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, the priest, and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob; and all of them came to the king.

And Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” And he said, “Here I am, my lord.”

And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse — in your giving him bread and a sword, and inquiring of God for him, so that he rises against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?”

And Ahimelech answered the king and said: “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David — the king’s son-in-law, who turns aside to your bodyguard, and is honored in your house?

Did I begin today to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let the king not lay a charge against his servant, or against all my father’s house — for your servant knew nothing of all this, small or great.”

And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech — you and all your father’s house.”

And the king said to the runners standing around him: “Turn, and put to death the priests of the LORD — for their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not uncover my ear.” But the servants of the king were not willing to stretch out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

And the king said to Doeg, “You turn, and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he himself struck the priests; and he put to death on that day eighty-five men who carried the linen ephod.

Indeed, when Saul heard that the priests had helped David unwittingly, he had them brought to him, and he killed them. It was fitting for you too that innocent blood be hung about your neck, as was Saul's case. But the Son of David escaped from your hands amid the Gentiles. David was persecuted by Saul, just as the Son was by Herod.

While the holy man David was on the run from Saul's persecution, he fled to a place where he thought he would be safe. He passed by the house of a priest named Ahimelech and accepted loaves from him.

And the king said to Doeg the Edomite: Turn you, etc. Which the impious persecutors said to the most wicked ministers, evidently moved from every state of rectitude and further defiled by the innocent blood of the steadfast: Turn to evil, and after the crime of betrayal, also increase the infliction of tortures on the faithful of Christ, compelling them either to die or to deny…

And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword — man and woman, child and nursing infant, ox and donkey and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub escaped, and his name was Abiathar; and he fled after David.

And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

And David said to Abiathar: “I knew that day, because Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. It is I who have turned against every soul of your father’s house.

Stay with me. Do not fear — for whoever seeks my life seeks your life; for you are in safekeeping with me.”

I Samuel22

David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob