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 showeth 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 showeth 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 inquired 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 inquired 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 honorable in thine house?
15 Did I then begin to inquire 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 show 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 showed 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.
The book of 1 Samuel is the first book of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible and is believed to have been written by the prophet Samuel around the 11th century BC. The book tells the story of the rise of the Israelite monarchy, beginning with the birth of the prophet Samuel and ending with the death of King Saul. Chapter 22 of 1 Samuel is a pivotal chapter in the book, as it marks a turning point in the story of Saul and the beginning of David's journey to becoming the next king of Israel.
Before delving into the events of chapter 22, it is important to understand the context in which it takes place. The previous chapters of 1 Samuel have shown the decline of Saul's reign as king of Israel. Despite being chosen by God to lead His people, Saul has repeatedly disobeyed God's commands and has become increasingly paranoid and jealous of David, a young shepherd who has gained favor with both God and the people of Israel.
In chapter 21, David flees from Saul's wrath and seeks refuge with the priest Ahimelech in the city of Nob. Ahimelech provides David with bread and the sword of Goliath, which David had taken after defeating the Philistine giant. However, when Doeg, Saul's chief herdsman, witnesses David's interaction with Ahimelech, he reports it to Saul, who becomes enraged and orders the execution of Ahimelech and all the priests of Nob. Only one priest, Abiathar, manages to escape and seeks refuge with David.
Chapter 22 opens with David fleeing from Nob and seeking refuge in the cave of Adullam. This is an important turning point for David, as it marks the beginning of his journey towards becoming the next king of Israel. The cave of Adullam becomes a gathering place for all those who are in distress, in debt, or discontented, and David becomes their leader.
Meanwhile, Saul is informed by Doeg that David has sought refuge with Ahimelech in Nob. In his rage, Saul orders the execution of all the priests of Nob, as well as their families and livestock. This brutal act shows the extent of Saul's paranoia and his disregard for God's laws. Only one man, Abiathar, escapes and flees to David to seek refuge.
As David is in hiding, he receives a message from the prophet Gad, who tells him to leave the stronghold of Adullam and go to the land of Judah. David obeys and goes to the forest of Hereth, where he continues to gather followers and build an army.
Meanwhile, Saul is informed that David and his followers have been seen in the forest of Hereth. He becomes even more paranoid and accuses his own men of conspiring against him. He even asks them to swear an oath of loyalty to him and to reveal if anyone has helped David. However, no one is willing to betray David, and Saul's own son, Jonathan, defends David's innocence.
There are several important themes that can be found in chapter 22 of 1 Samuel. These themes are not only relevant to the events of this chapter, but also to the overall message of the book.
1. The Consequences of Disobedience
One of the main themes of chapter 22 is the consequences of disobedience. Saul's disobedience towards God's commands has led to his downfall as king. Despite being chosen by God, Saul has repeatedly disobeyed His laws and has become consumed by his own jealousy and paranoia. As a result, he has lost the favor of God and has become a tyrannical and unstable ruler.
This theme is also reflected in Saul's treatment of the priests of Nob. By ordering their execution, Saul has shown a complete disregard for God's laws and has brought about his own downfall. This serves as a warning to readers about the consequences of disobedience towards God.
2. The Importance of Trusting in God
Another important theme in chapter 22 is the importance of trusting in God. Despite being on the run from Saul, David continues to trust in God and seeks His guidance. This trust in God is what ultimately leads David to safety and helps him to gather followers and build an army. It also serves as a contrast to Saul's lack of trust in God and his reliance on his own strength and power.
This theme is also reflected in the actions of Abiathar, the sole survivor from the massacre of the priests of Nob. Despite losing everything, Abiathar continues to trust in God and seeks refuge with David. This shows the importance of faith and trust in God, even in the face of adversity.
3. The Power of Redemption
Chapter 22 also highlights the power of redemption. Despite being a fugitive and a wanted man, David is able to redeem himself by becoming a leader and gathering followers. He also shows compassion and mercy towards Abiathar, who has lost everything because of David's actions. This redemption not only serves as a turning point for David's journey towards becoming the next king of Israel, but also as a reminder of the power of second chances and forgiveness.
Chapter 22 of 1 Samuel serves as a pivotal chapter in the book, as it marks a turning point in the story of Saul and the beginning of David's journey towards becoming the next king of Israel. It also highlights important themes such as the consequences of disobedience, the importance of trusting in God, and the power of redemption.
This chapter serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride, jealousy, and disobedience towards God's laws. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and trust in God, even in the face of adversity. Furthermore, it shows that no matter how far one has fallen, there is always the possibility of redemption and second chances.
Overall, chapter 22 of 1 Samuel is a powerful and thought-provoking chapter that continues to hold relevance and meaning for readers today. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of our actions and the importance of faith, trust, and redemption in our lives.
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