DAVID AT ADULLAM AND MIZPAH SAUL KILLED THE...

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell

DAVID AT ADULLAM AND MIZPAH

SAUL KILLED THE PRIESTS OF NOB

1 SAMUEL 22:1-23

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN., 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor

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David at Adullam and Mizpah

Saul Killed the Priests at Nob

Commentary

by

Ron Thomas

Text: 1 Samuel 22:1-23, 1. David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 3. From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?" 4. So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. 5. But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. 6. Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him.



7. Saul said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8. Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today." 9. But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 10. Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine." 11. Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12. Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." "Yes, my lord," he answered. 13. Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?" 14. Ahimelech answered the king, "Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15. Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair." 16. But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family." 17. Then the king ordered the guards at his side: "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me." But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.



18. The king then ordered Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. 20. But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. 21. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 22. Then David said to Abiathar: "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. 23. Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me." (NIV) Commentary:

David at Adullam and Mizpah

1 Samuel 22:1-5, David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?" So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. (NIV) I. David provided protection for his family.



A. David escaped to Adullam.

1. 1 Samuel 22:1,2, David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. (NIV)

a. Saul’s persistence in trying to kill David resulted in not only David’s fleeing, but also influenced others sympathetic to David to gather around him, forming something of a small force. b. David’s family is now with him.

i. Perhaps they went out on their own because they knew Saul would come to Bethlehem, or maybe David went to “round them up” in order to flee together and protect them.

c. The size of his small force was four hundred (400) men, not counting however many women and children there might have been.

i. For David, this could have been (probably was) a logistical nightmare. ii. A small force this size required supplies to keep it going; adding women and children to the entourage would certainly complicate the situation.

d. Saul now had a real problem on his hands.



i. Whatever he thought about David and the kingdom, all he had was one man to be concerned with, but that man was on the Lord’s side…and that made all the difference. ii. The desire to kill David consumed Saul but he failed to consider that David was on the Lord’ side. iii. Saul had now given credence to a conspiracy in Israel because David had turned into a force that had to be reckoned with.

B. David brought his family to Moab.

1. 1 Samuel 22:3-5, From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?" So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. (NIV)

a. Why Moab?

i. Perhaps it had to do with convenience. ii. More than likely it had to do with David’s connection to Moab. iii. He was a descendent of Ruth, a Moabitess.



iv. Ruth 4:21, 22, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David. (NIV)

b. While David was in Adullam, his family was with him; thus he sought refuge for them in Moab.

i. He knew Saul would come looking for them in Bethlehem, his home village. ii. More than likely Moab would have wanted to perpetuate this division between David and Saul – that way Saul’s kingdom became weakened and less of a threat. iii. While David had his family in Moab, he could more effectively escape and tend to matters directly related to Saul. iv. While David operated out of Adullam, it was the prophet Gad who told David to depart to the forest of Hereth (unknown location).

Saul Killed the Priests of Nob

1 Samuel 22:6-10, Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. Saul said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant



to lie in wait for me, as he does today." But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. (NIV) 10. Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine." I. Saul appealed to the tribe of Benjamin for assistance.

A. Saul heard of David’s whereabouts.

1. 1 Samuel 22:6, Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. (NIV)

a. Saul knew David’s location and he knew about the men who were with him. b. To Saul it was a strong conspiracy that needed to be crushed.

B. Saul whined!

1. 1 Samuel 22:7, 8, Saul said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today." (NIV)



2. Notice how many times, Saul mentioned the pronoun “me.”

a. Saul made the matter with David a partisan matter.

i. Saul addressed the tribe of Benjamin and called upon the men of the tribe to answer the question, “Who will do more for you, David or Saul?” ii. Of course, the answer was implied in the question. iii. Does this question get to the heart of even our political situations today – who can give more? It is not a matter of doing right, but who can give more. iv. Even if one tried to operate on the basis of doing right, there is still a “who can give more” component. v. It encourages one to think negatively of politics. vi. Of course, unscrupulous events like this happen when foundational principles are not relied on.

b. Not only do we see the partisan aspect of the situation; we see also the paranoia of Saul.

i. He not only felt the conspiracy to be strong with David, but applied it to his own tribe, court, and his own son.



c. It is interesting to note the thinking of Saul, once chosen by God, who was now consumed by fear and degradation.

C. Doeg came forth with information. 1. 1 Samuel 22:9, 10, But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine." (NIV)

a. Doeg, the Edomite, was a servant of the king. b. Up to this point in time, Doeg had proved himself in the king’s service for he was the chief of Saul’s herdsman (21:7); a faithful servant to the king.

i. 1 Samuel 21:7, Saul said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? (NIV) ii. However, in being a faithful servant to the king, we learn – by later actions – that he was not a faithful servant of the Lord.

c. When Saul whined and requested assistance from the tribe, Doeg answered by telling him what he saw of David and his actions.

1 Samuel 22:11-19, Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at



Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." "Yes, my lord," he answered. Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?" Ahimelech answered the king, "Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair." But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family." Then the king ordered the guards at his side: "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me." But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. The king then ordered Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. (NIV) I. Saul ordered the Priests of Nob and its residents killed.

A. Saul called for Ahimelech and the priests.

1. 1 Samuel 22:11-17, Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." "Yes, my lord," he answered. Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?" Ahimelech answered the king, "Who of all



your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair." But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family." Then the king ordered the guards at his side: "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me." But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. (NIV)

a. Ahimelech, the priest.

i. He was the son of Ahitub. ii. Ahitub was the brother of Ichabod, the priestly son of Phinehas. iii. 1 Samuel 22:11, Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. (NIV) iv. Phinehas, son of Eli, died in battle (1 Samuel 4) as a result of the Lord’s judgment against the house of Eli (1 Samuel 3:12-14). v. 1 Samuel 4:1-11, Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was



defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies." So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!" So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (NIV)



vi. 1 Samuel 3:12-14, that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' " (NIV)

b. Ahimelech and the priests came to Saul after he called for them.

2. Saul accused Ahimelech of collaborating with David against Saul without evidence to confirm this conspiracy (1 Samuel 22:12-13.

a. 1 Samuel 22:12, 13, Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." "Yes, my lord," he answered. Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?" (NIV)

i. Arnold suggested that in ancient times it was customary for kings to slaughter priests who spoke an oracle on behalf of any rebellious leader (p. 312). ii. If such was the case, with Saul’s having adopted the custom of heathen kings, the outrageous actions by the authority of Saul makes the events all the worse.



iii. Did Saul retain any desire, determination to do things the Lord’s way? iv. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? v. Those with paranoid minds need no evidence but their own!

3. Ahimelech denied the king’s charge and said, moreover, that David was a faithful servant, not a leader of a rebellion (22:14-15).

a. 1 Samuel 22:14, 15, Ahimelech answered the king, "Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair." (NIV)

i. The priest said of David: he is your faithful servant, he is your son-in-law, he is the leader of your bodyguard, he is honored in your entire house. ii. With respect to inquiring of the Lord for David (22:15), Ahimelech said this was not the first time he had done this (almost as if the king knew this!). iii. As the NKJV reads, it seems easy to interpret the words of Ahimelech as one who denied



inquiring of the Lord for David (as Winter does, p. 267). iv. However, it appears best to note the word “begin” and interpret the passage as stated above.

4. Saul was not going to listen to any defense Ahimelech had to offer (22:16-17).

a. 1 Samuel 22:16, 17, But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family." Then the king ordered the guards at his side: "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me." But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD. (NIV)

i. Saul came to this event having already judged the priests as guilty of all charges; evidence to the contrary would not be allowed in the innocent’s defense! ii. With this Saul turned to his guards who normally ran before him (to make sure the king’s travel was protected) and commanded them to execute the priests. iii. They refused because they understood whom the priests served.

5. By order of the king, Doeg slaughtered the priests and their families.



a. 1 Samuel 22:18, 19, The king then ordered Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. (NIV)

i. Saul was refused by those who were still thinking properly. ii. Doeg had no compunction at doing the king’s bidding. iii. Doeg knew this would ingratiate himself to Saul. iv. Are Doeg and Haman similar? v. On that day eighty-five (85) priests were killed at the hands of Doeg. vi. It is reasonable to think he had some assistance with this. vii. Not only did eighty-five (85) priests die, but at Nob, where the families resided, others were killed (along with the livestock). viii. Thus about three hundred eighty-five (385) people died because of a madman! ix. Commentators have observed that when God commanded Saul to destroy Amalek, Saul refused



to destroy all; when God did not command, Saul destroyed all.

b. The priests at Nob were descendents of Eli; thus the Lord’s word was coming to fulfillment.

i. It is strange to think about such things as the Lord’s word coming to fulfillment. ii. It is no wonder that many people misread events like this and think the Lord saw to it that it had to happen in a certain way. iii. In truth, the problems of men resulted in the Lord’s seeing in the distance where men’s actions would ultimately lead. iv. The Lord saw the events surrounding Eli, his sons, the prophet Samuel, the new king Israel wanted, etc., and knew the end result. v. 1 Samuel 3:1-19, The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up



and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' " Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel answered, "Here I am." "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." So Samuel told him everything, hiding



nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes." The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. vi. 1 Samuel 8:1-21, When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and



commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. (NIV) vii. The Lord brought about none of the evil deeds. vii. It was man’s consequence for living the life he chose, the life of sin.

1 Samuel 22:20-23, But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Then David said to Abiathar: "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family.



Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me." (NIV) I. Abiathar escaped and told David.

A. David learned of the news of the slaughter.

1. 1 Samuel 22:20, 21, But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. (NIV)

a. Abiathar escaped the slaughter and found David to report the news and find refuge.

i. Why (how) did Abiathar escape? ii. Smith thought it might have been because he was left behind when Saul called the priests in order to not leave the place unattended (Pulpit, p. 413). iii. It is likely he could have escaped with the belongings of the tabernacle when he concluded (quickly) the murderous intentions of King Saul.

b. The words of Jesus.

i. There is a point of controversy with some about a perceived contradiction in Scripture. ii. Here in this chapter we read that Ahimelech was the priest (in charge, High Priest) at Nob.



iii. However, in Mark 2:26, Matthew 12:1-8 and Luke 6:1-5, we read of the Lord’s speaking of these events (in part) and saying the priest was Abiathar. iv. Mark 2:26, How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? (KJV) v. Matthew 12:1-8, At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. (KJV)

vi. Luke 6:1-5, And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went



through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. (KJV)

vii. There is a clear difference. viii. The NKJV gives a translation that alleviates the difficulty: “…in the days of Abiathar…” but it does not clear it up to the satisfaction of all. ix. In a footnote section of the NET (on Mark 2:26, p. 1750), there is some discussion on the translation on the Greek phrase that gives us our English phrase as read in the NKJV. x. The translation of the NKJV does not commend itself because, while possible, it does not have external manuscript support. xi. Thus, they offer a counter translation that is literal (“when Abiathar was high priest”), but offer this remark: “…the current state of knowledge about the meaning of this grammatical



construction is incomplete…” and open to revision later when more knowledge is available.

B. David welcomed Abiathar to travel with him.

1. 1 Samuel 22:22-23, Then David said to Abiathar: "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me." (NIV)

a. David quickly assigned guilt to himself because he saw Doeg and, evidently, knew him to be less than of stellar reputation. b. He offered Abiathar a place of refuge because he knew Saul would go after the lone escapee as well as after David and his men. c. With Abiathar were the sacred contents of the tabernacle. d. David was now convinced (if he was not before) that he had divine protection because of God’s priests, Samuel’s words to him earlier, and his continued ability to escape Saul (Psalm 52). e. Psalm 52:1-9, Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! Surely



God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, "Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!" But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. (NIV)



Questions

1 Samuel 22:1-23

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. Trace the journeys of David from 1 Samuel 22:1 through 1 Samuel 22:23 and geographically locate each place mentioned as being on his route. _____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Who joined David at the cave of Adullam? How many were with him? ______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Why did David choose Moab as a safe haven for his parents? ______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Why didn’t David also remain in Moab? _______________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. What did Saul tell the men of Benjamin at Gibeah? Why did he say these things? _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What did Doeg tell Saul? ___________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Identify Ahimelech and Abiathar. ____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. With what offenses did Saul charge Ahimelech? ________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



9. What defense did Ahimelech offer to these accusations? __________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. Was Saul interested in truth and justice? Give evidence to support your answer. _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Saul’s guards were ordered to kill Ahimelech and his family. They refused. What punishment came to them for refusal to obey the king? __ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Who killed Ahimelech? How many were killed that day? ________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. “__________________, a ____________________ of ___________ ________________ of _________________, _____________________ and __________________ to _________________ ________________. He told ________________________ that _____________________



had ____________________ the ___________________________ of the _____________________.” 14. What was David’s response to this news? _____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. How are 1 Samuel 2:27-36 and 1 Samuel 22:18, 19 related? _______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. Extra credit question: Of what present or recent historic rulers and politicians does Saul remind you? List the similarities. _____________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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