221 So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam ; and when his brothers and all his father's household heard of it, they went down there to him. 2 Everyone who was in distress , and everyone who was in debt , and everyone who was discontented e gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him. 3 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab ; and he said to the king of Moab , "Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until e I know what God will do for me." 4 Then he left them with the king of Moab ; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold . 5 The prophet Gad said to David , "Do not stay in the stronghold ; depart , and go into the land of Judah ." So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth .
6 Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered . Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah , under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand , and all his servants were standing around him. 7 Saul said to his servants who stood around him, "Hear now , O Benjamites ! Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards ? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds ? 8 "For all of you have conspired against me so that there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse , and there is none of you who is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush , as it is this day ." 9 Then Doeg the Edomite , who was standing by the servants of Saul , said , " I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob , to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub . 10 " He inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions , and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine ." 11 Then the king sent someone to summon Ahimelech the priest , the son of Ahitub , and all his father's household , the priests who were in Nob ; and all of them came to the king . 12 Saul said , "Listen now , son of Ahitub ." And he answered , "Here I am, my lord ." 13 Saul then said to him, "Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he would rise up against me by lying in ambush as it is this day ?" 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king and said , "And who among all your servants is as faithful as David , even the king's son-in-law , who is captain over your guard , and is honored in your house ? 15 "Did I just begin to inquire of God for him today ? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any of the household of my father , for your servant knows nothing at all e of this whole affair ." 16 But the king said , "You shall surely die , Ahimelech , you and all your father's household !" 17 And the king said to the guards who were attending him, "Turn around and put the priests of the Lord to death , because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal e it to me." But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the Lord . 18 Then the king said to Doeg , "You turn around and attack the priests ." And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests , and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod . 19 And he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword , both men and women , children and infants ; also oxen , donkeys , and sheep he struck with the edge of the sword .
20 But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub , named Abiathar , escaped and fled after David . 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord . 22 Then David said to Abiathar , "I knew on that day , when Doeg the Edomite was there , that he would surely tell Saul . I have brought about the death of every person in your father's household . 23 "Stay with me; do not be afraid , for he who seeks my life seeks your life , for you are safe with me."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 22:1-31
Commentary on 1 Samuel 22:1-5
(Read 1 Samuel 22:1-5)
See what weak instruments God sometimes uses, to bring about his own purposes. The Son of David is ready to receive distressed souls, who will be commanded by him. He receives all who come unto Him, however vile and miserable; he changes them into a holy people, and employs them in his service: those who would reign with him must be contented first to suffer with and for him. Observe with what tender concern David provided for his aged parents. The first thing he does is to find them a quiet habitation, whatever became of himself. Let children learn to honour their parents, in every thing consulting their ease and satisfaction. Though highly preferred, and much employed, let them not forget their aged parents. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And the Lord will preserve his people for their appointed work, however they may be hated and exposed.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 22:6-19
(Read 1 Samuel 22:6-19)
See the nature of jealous malice and its pitiful arts. Saul looks upon all about him as his enemies, because they do not just say as he says. In Ahimelech's answer to Saul we have the language of conscious innocence. But what wickedness will not the evil spirit hurry men to when he gets the dominion! Saul alleges that which was utterly false and unproved. But the most bloody tyrants have found instruments of their cruelty as barbarous as themselves. Doeg, having murdered the priests, went to the city, Nob, and put all to the sword there. Nothing so vile but those may do it, who have provoked God to give them up to their hearts' lusts. Yet this was the accomplishment of the threatenings against the house of Eli. Though Saul was unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting it. No word of God shall fall to the ground.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 22:20-23
(Read 1 Samuel 22:20-23)
David greatly lamented the calamity. It is great trouble to a good man to find himself any way the cause of evil to others. He must have been much pained, when he considered that his falsehood was one cause of this fatal event. David speaks with assurance of his own safety, and promises that Abiathar should have his protection. With the Son of David, all who are his may be sure they shall be in safeguard, Psalm 91:1. In the hurry and distraction David was continually in, he found time for communion with God, and found comfort in it.