[1] So David went away from there and took cover in a strong place at
Adullam; and his brothers and all his father's people, hearing of it, went
down to him there. [2] And everyone who was in trouble, and everyone who
was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, came together to him, and
he became captain over them: about four hundred men were joined to him. [3]
And from there David went to Mizpeh in the land of Moab: and he said to the
king of Moab, Let my father and mother come and make their living-place
with you till it is clear to me what God will do for me. [4] And he took
them to the king of Moab and they went on living with him while David was
in his safe place. [5] And the prophet Gad said to David, Do not go on
living in this place but go into the land of Judah. Then David went away
and came to the woodland of Hereth. [6] And news was given to Saul that
David had been seen, and the men who were with him: now Saul was in Gibeah,
seated under the tree in the high place, with his spear in his hand, and
all his servants were in their places before him. [7] Then Saul said to his
servants who were there about him, Give ear now, you Benjamites; will the
son of Jesse give to every one of you fields and vine-gardens, will he make
you all captains of hundreds and captains of thousands; [8] That all of you
have made designs against me, and not one of you gave me word when my son
made an agreement with the son of Jesse, and not one of you has pity for me
or has made my eyes open to the fact that my servant has been moved by my
son against me, as at this day? [9] Then Doeg, the Edomite, who was by the
side of the servants of Saul, in answer said, I saw the son of Jesse coming
to Nob, to Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub. [10] And he got directions from
the Lord for him, and gave him food, and put in his hand the sword of
Goliath the Philistine. [11] Then the king sent for Ahimelech the priest,
the son of Ahitub, and for all the men of his father's family who were
priests in Nob: and they all came to the king. [12] And Saul said, Give ear
now, O son of Ahitub. And answering he said, Here I am, my lord. [13] And
Saul said to him, Why have you made designs against me with the son of
Jesse, giving him food and a sword and getting directions from the Lord for
him, and helping him to take up arms against me, and to be on the watch to
make a secret attack on me as he is doing now? [14] Then Ahimelech
answering said to the king, Who among all your servants is so true to you
as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and is a captain of your armed men,
and has a place of honour in your house? [15] Is this the first time I have
got directions from God for him? Far be the thought! let the king make no
such statement against his servant or my father's family, for your servant
has no knowledge, great or small, of this thing. [16] And the king said,
You will certainly be put to death, Ahimelech, you and all your father's
family. [17] Then the king said to the runners who were waiting near him,
Put the priests of the Lord to death; because they are on David's side, and
having knowledge of his flight, did not give me word of it. But the king's
servants would not put out their hands to make an attack on the Lord's
priests. [18] Then the king said to Doeg, You are to put the priests to
death. And Doeg the Edomite, turning on the priests and attacking them, put
to death that day eighty-five men who took up the ephod. [19] And Nob, the
town of the priests, he put to the sword, all the men and women, children
and babies at the breast, and oxen and asses and sheep. [20] And Abiathar,
one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, got away and went in
flight after David; [21] And gave him the news of how Saul had put to death
the Lord's priests. [22] And David said to Abiathar, I was certain that
day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would take the news to Saul:
I am responsible for the lives of all your father's family. [23] Keep here
with me and have no fear; for he who has designs on my life has designs on
yours: but with me you will be safe.