Table of Contents
1 Samuel 22
1 Samuel 22
1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10 And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
15 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 my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
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 they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.
18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests.
22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
Notes
Cross Reference
Commentary
Rashi
Verse 4
<html><b>And they remained with him all the time that Dovid was in the fortress.</b> Near Moav, and when Dovid left from there to the forest of Cheres, the king of Moav killed his father, mother, and brothers, except for one of them, whom Nochosh the Ammonite raised.1<i class=“footnote”>Bamidbar Rabbah 14:1.</i> This is the kindness which Dovid [referred to when he] said, “as his father did kindness with me,”2<i class=“footnote”>II Shmuel 10:2.</i> as it is stated in the Midrash of R. Tanchuma.</html>
Verse 6
<html><b>That Dovid…had been discovered.</b> That he realized to beware of him. <b>Beneath the tamarisk tree in Romoh.</b> On one [hill], which was within Binyomin's border.3<i class=“footnote”>Not to be confused with the Romoh where Shmuel lived.</i> Our Rabbis said4<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Taanis 5b.</i> that this was Shmuel's Romoh, and these are two different places. It is expounded thus: 'Shaul was sitting in Givoh in the merit of the great tamarisk tree [i.e., Shmuel] who was in Romoh, and who was praying for him.'5<i class=“footnote”>Were it not for Shmuel’s prayers, Shaul would have had to relinquish the throne immediately after the incident with Amoleik. Shmuel prayed for Shaul’s reign to remain intact as long as he was alive.</i></html>
Verse 13
<html><b>And inquiring of God for him.</b> [By allowing him to consult the Urim and Tumim], you have made him a king, because no inquiry may be made of the Urim and Tumim for a commoner.</html>
Verse 14
<html><b>Who bows to your bidding.</b> As in “And they turned [<span>וַיָסֻרוּ</span>] to him,”6<i class=“footnote”>Bereishis 19:3.</i> meaning that he is near to service you and to obey your orders. How then was I to know that he was not going on your mission?</html>
Verse 15
<html><b>Did I begin today to inquire.</b> This is in the form of a question, meaning, it is already a long time that the concern of the community is his, for they appointed him as the one who leads [the Bnei] Yisroel to and [from battle], and ever since then, I inquire of God on his behalf. <b>Far be it from me.</b> To have done this thing with the intent of rebellion or treason.7<i class=“footnote”>I.e., I never would have acted against the king’s interests had I known that Dovid was fleeing.</i></html>
Verse 17
<html><b>To the runners who stood near him.</b> Referring to Avneir and Amoso. <b>Did not want.</b> They expounded [Scripture's] “but's and only's.” Scripture states: “Every man who rebels against your command [shall be put to death].”8<i class=“footnote”>Yehoshua 1:18.</i> One may think that this means even [if “your command” was] to commit a sin; Scripture, therefore states: “Only” [to exclude this condition].</html>
Verse 18
<html><b>To Doeg.</b> [Doeg's] name changed [to Doyeig].9<i class=“footnote”><span>דַיָג</span> means fisherman.</i> He said to him, “You are caught like a fish;10<i class=“footnote”>Based on Talmud Yerushalmi Maseches Sanhedrin 10:2. However, the Gemara in Maseches Sanhedrin 106b explains that <span>דֹאֵג</span> means worry, i.e., <span>ה׳</span> was concerned that he might go astray. Once he did, <span>ה׳</span> said, ‘<span>וי</span>’[= woe], it is lamentable that this brilliant person has gone astray, hence the <span>דוֹיֵג</span> spelling.</i> you informed on them so you slay them.”</html>
Verse 22
<html><b>I am responsible for.</b> I brought about the matter, causing it to come.</html>
Verse 23
<html><b>For the man who seeks my life.</b> One person is pursuing both of us. Wherever I escape, you escape, for you will always be in my safeguard; as Targum Yonoson renders, 'for he who seeks to kill me, seeks to kill you.' But, it may also mean, 'whoever will love me, will love you, and whoever will guard my soul, will guard your soul.' There is a similar instance in Scripture, “Men of blood hate a sincere person, but the upright seek his soul.'11<i class=“footnote”> Mishlei 29:10.</i> This is [an instance of] seeking a soul for [doing] good.</html>