1 Samuel 22

1 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] left Gath [fleeing from danger] and took refuge [to escape, to be delivered] in the cave [a dark or hidden place] of Adullam [a town in Palestine, originally inhabited by Canaanites]. When his brothers [male siblings, close relatives] and the rest of his father’s [paternal] household [family, dwelling place] heard about it [to hear and listen, often implying attention and obedience], they went down [to go down, to descend] to him there [in that location, towards him]. word study 2 And all [every single one, without exception] who were distressed [in trouble, experiencing hardship] or indebted [owing a debt, under financial burden] or discontented [bitter in soul, unhappy] rallied around him, and he became their leader [captain, ruler]. About four hundred men [a group of four hundred individuals] were with him [together, in his company]. word study 3 From there David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] went to Mizpeh [a watchtower, a place of observation] of Moab [the land and descendants of the son of Lot], where he said to the king [a royal person, a ruler] of Moab, “Please [I pray, I beseech] let my father [a male parent, an ancestor] and mother [a female parent, a maternal figure] stay with you [near you, in your presence] until I learn [know, ascertain by seeing] what God [Elohim, the supreme God] will do [make, bring about] for me [on my behalf, for my benefit].” word study 4 So he left them in the care [under the protection, guidance] of the king [ruler, monarch] of Moab [the land of the descendants of Lot], and they stayed [dwelt, remained] with him [in his presence, under his authority] the whole time [all the days, throughout the period] David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] was in the stronghold [a fortress, a place of safety]. word study 5 Then the prophet [a spokesperson for God] Gad said to David, “Do not stay [abide or remain] in the stronghold [a fortress or place of protection]. Depart [go away, leave] and go into the land [territory or region] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, son of Jacob].” So David left [went away, departed] and went to the forest [a thicket or copse of bushes] of Hereth [a thicket or forest in Palestine]. word study 6 Soon Saul [the king of Israel, Shaul] learned that David [the future king, beloved of God] and his men [faithful followers, companions] had been discovered [found out, made known]. At that time Saul was in Gibeah [a city of Benjamin, his hometown], sitting [dwelling, abiding] under the tamarisk tree [a grove, a shady spot] on the hill at Gibeah [a high place, Ramah], with his spear in hand [in his power, under his control] and all his servants [attendants, officials] standing [stationed, waiting] around him. word study 7 Then Saul [the king of Israel] said to his servants [attendants, those who stood by him], “Listen [hear and obey, give attention], men of Benjamin [descendants of the tribe of Benjamin]! Is the son [descendant, heir] of Jesse [the father of David, a man of Judah] giving [bestowing, granting] all of you [every one of you, collectively] fields [agricultural lands, territories] and vineyards [gardens for grape cultivation] and making [appointing, setting] you [each of you, individually] commanders [leaders, captains] of thousands [large groups, armies] or hundreds [smaller units, companies]? word study 8 Is that why all of you [have conspired together, made a secret agreement] have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son [my child, my descendant] had made a covenant [a formal agreement, a binding promise] with the son of Jesse [the father of David]. Not one of you has shown concern for me [pity for me, sorrow on my behalf] or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant [my slave, my attendant] to lie in wait [to ambush, to attack unexpectedly] against me, as is the case [as it is happening] today [at this present time].” word study 9 But Doeg [a descendant of Esau] the Edomite, who had stationed [stood, been appointed] himself with Saul’s [Shaul, the desired one] servants, answered [responded, gave an account]: “I saw [perceived, looked upon] the son [descendant, offspring] of Jesse [I possess, a member of the tribe of Judah] come [approach, draw near] to Ahimelech [my brother is king, a priest and friend of King David] son of Ahitub [my brother is good] at Nob [a priestly city, a place of spiritual leadership]. word study 10 Ahimelech inquired [asked for guidance, sought counsel] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] for him and gave him provisions [food, victuals, supplies]. He also gave him the sword [cutting instrument, tool for battle] of Goliath [the giant Philistine warrior] the Philistine [a person from the region of Philistia, an immigrant people].” word study 11 Then the king [ruler, monarch] sent messengers to summon Ahimelech [the high priest, spiritual leader] the priest [one who serves God, mediator], the son [descendant, offspring] of Ahitub [father of the priests], and his father’s whole family [all his relatives, household], who were priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] at Nob [a city of priests, sacred place]. And all [every single one, the entire group] of them came to the king [to the monarch’s presence, before the ruler]. word study 12 “Listen now [hear and obey, give ear], son [descendant] of Ahitub,” said Saul [Shaul, the desired one]. “Here I am [look, behold, I’m present], my lord [master, ruler],” he replied. word study 13 And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son [descendant] of Jesse conspired [plotted, tied together] against me? You gave him bread [food, sustenance] and a sword [cutting instrument, weapon] and inquired [asked, sought] of God [Elohim, the supreme Being] for him so that he could rise up [stand, take a stand] against me to lie in wait [ambush, attack unexpectedly], as he is doing today [at this present time].” word study 14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all [every single one of] your servants [faithful attendants, slaves] is as faithful [trustworthy, reliable] as David, the king’s [royal] son-in-law [husband of the king’s daughter, bridegroom], the captain [leader, commander] of your bodyguard [guardian, protector] who is honored [respected, esteemed] in your house [palace, royal court]? word study 15 Was that day [the beginning] the first time I inquired [sought guidance, asked counsel] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] for him? Far be it from me [let it not be, God forbid]! Let not the king [the ruler, the monarch] accuse your servant [myself, a humble servant] or any of my father’s household [family, relatives], for your servant [I, a faithful servant] knew nothing [was unaware, had no knowledge] of this whole affair [matter, situation]—not in part [less] or in whole [more].” word study 16 But the king [ruler, monarch] replied, “You [as a person, individually] will surely die [meet your end, perish], Ahimelech [the high priest, spiritual leader], you and all [every single one, the entire] your father’s [ancestral, paternal] house [family, lineage, household] [including all descendants, relatives]!” word study 17 Then the king [ruler, monarch] ordered the guards [footmen, runners] at his side, “Turn [surround, go around] and kill [slay, put to death] the priests [spiritual leaders, ministers] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], because they too [also, even] sided [allied, supported] with David [the king’s son, the anointed one]. For they knew [were aware, had knowledge] he was fleeing [running away, escaping], but they did not tell [reveal, disclose] me.” But the king’s servants [attendants, officials] would not lift [put forth, stretch out] a hand [power, authority] to strike [fall upon, attack] the priests [spiritual leaders, ministers] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 18 So the king [ruler, sovereign] ordered Doeg [the Edomite, a foreign servant], “You turn [surround, attack] and strike down [fall upon, slay] the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators]!” And Doeg the Edomite [a descendant of Esau] turned [surrounded, attacked] and struck down [fell upon, slew] the priests [ministers of God] himself. On that day [at that time, in that moment] he killed [slew, put to death] eighty-five men [individuals, persons] who wore [carried, bore] the linen ephod [a sacred vest]. word study 19 He also put to the sword [with the edge of the sword, smote] Nob, the city [town] of the priests [those who serve God], with its men [male persons] and women [females], children [young ones] and infants [babies, sucklings], oxen [cattle], donkeys [asses], and sheep [flocks]. word study 20 But one [a single, unique] of the sons [descendants, offspring] of Ahimelech [the priest, friend of David] son of Ahitub [the father of Meraioth] escaped [to slip away, deliver]. His name [identity, character] was Abiathar [the faithful priest], and he fled [to run away quickly, escape] to David [the king]. word study 21 And Abiathar [the faithful priest] told David that Saul [the king of Israel] had killed [slain, put to death] the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 22 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] said to Abiathar [a faithful Israelite priest], “I knew [was aware, had knowledge of] that Doeg [an Edomite, a descendant of Esau] the Edomite [from the region of Edom] was there [present, in the same location] that day [a period of 24 hours, a point in time], and that he [as a servant of King Saul] was sure [would certainly, without a doubt] to tell [declare, inform] Saul [the first king of Israel]. I myself [personally, as the one responsible] am responsible [have brought about, occasioned] for the lives [souls, the essence of being] of everyone [all persons, the entire household] in your father’s [paternal, ancestral] house [family, dwelling place]. word study 23 Stay [dwell, abide] with me; do not [never] be afraid [fearful, terrified], for he who seeks [is searching for, desires to find] your life [soul, living being] is seeking [pursuing, trying to find] mine as well [also, too]. You will be safe [protected, guarded] with me [in my care, under my protection].” word study