1Sa 22 | ABEn | STEP | And David went forth from there, and came through safe. And he comes to the cave of Odollam, and [ 2 hear 1 his brethren], and all the house of his father, and they went down to him there.

‏ 1 Samuel 22

CHAPTER 22 David Gathers a Band of Outcasts

1 And David went forth from there, and came through safe. And he comes to the cave of Odollam, and [²hear ¹his brethren], and all the house of his father, and they went down to him there. 2 And gathered together with him every one in necessity, and every debtor, and all in severe pain of the soul; and he was over them, taking the lead. And there were with him about four hundred men. 3 And David went forth from there unto Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, Let indeed my father and my mother be by you, until whenever I know what [²shall do ³to me ¹God]. 4 And he appealed to the person of the king of Moab. And they dwelt with him all the days of David being in the citadel. 5 And [⁴said ¹Gad ²the ³prophet] to David, Do not settle in the citadel. Go! and you shall come into the land of Judah. And David went, and came and settled in the city Hareth. 6 And Saul heard that David was known, and the men with him. And Saul stayed on the hill by the plowed field, the one in Ramah, and the spear was in his hand, and all his servants stood beside him. 7 And Saul said to his servants, of the ones standing beside him, Hear indeed, O sons of Benjamin! Shall truly [⁶all ⁵to you ⁴give ¹the ²son ³of Jesse] fields and vineyards? And [³all ²you ¹will he arrange] as commanders of hundreds, and commanders of thousands? 8 For [²situated together ¹you are all] against me, and there is not one uncovering my ear, in that [²ordains ¹my son] a covenant with the son of Jesse. And there is the one toiling for me from you, and uncovering my ear. For [²raised up ¹my son] my servant against me for an enemy, as it is this day? 9 And [⁴answered ¹Doeg ²the ³Edomite], the one placed over the mules of Saul. And he said, I saw the son of Jesse coming into Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub the priest. 10 And he asked him concerning God, and [³provisions ¹he gave ²to him]; and the broadsword of Goliath the Philistine he gave to him. 11 And [³sent ¹the ²king] to call Ahimelech son of Ahitub the priest, and all the sons of his father of the priests, of the ones in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear indeed, O son of Ahitub! And he said, Behold, it is I. Speak, O master! 13 And [²said ³to him ¹Saul], Why did you agree against me, you and the son of Jesse, for you to give him bread, and a broadsword, and should ask on his account of God, to put him against me for an enemy, as he is this day? 14 And Ahimelech answered to the king, and said, And who among all your servants is trustworthy as David, and son-in-law of the king, and one in charge of all your mobilization order, and honorable in your house? 15 Or today have I begun to ask for him through God? By no means. Let not [³impute ¹the ²king] concerning [²of his servant ¹the word], and against the entire house of my father, for [²knew not ¹your servant] in any of these things, a matter small or great.

Ahimelech and the Priests Murdered by Doeg

16 And [³said ¹king ²Saul], To death Ahimelech should die, you and all the house of your father. 17 And [³said ¹the ²king] to the bodyguards, to the ones standing by him, Lead forward, and put to death the priests of the lord! for their hand is with David, for they knew that he fled, and they did not uncover my ear. And [⁵would not ¹the ²servants ³of the ⁴king] bear their hands to encounter against the priests of the lord. 18 And [³said ¹the ²king] to Doeg, You turn, and encounter the priests! And [⁴turned ¹Doeg ²the ³Edomite], and put to death the priests of the lord in that day -- eighty-five men, all bearing an ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the mouth of the broadsword, from man unto woman, from infant and unto one nursing, and from calf and donkey and sheep, he struck by the mouth of the broadsword. 20 And [⁶came through safe ²son ¹one ³of Ahimelech ⁴son ⁵of Ahitub], and the name to him was Abiathar, and he fled after David. 21 And Abiathar reported to David that Saul put to death all the priests of the lord. 22 And David said to Abiathar, For I knew in that day, that Doeg the Edomite, that in reporting he would report to Saul. I am the one at fault for the lives of all the house of your father. 23 You sit down with me! Do not fear! for where ever I seek for my life, I shall seek also [²for your life ¹a place]; for you are guarded by me.