David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh
(Psalm 57:1–11; Psalm 142:1–7)

1  וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (And departed) דָּוִד֙ (David) מִשָּׁ֔ם (from there) וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט (and escaped) אֶל־ (to) מְעָרַ֣ת (the cave) עֲדֻלָּ֑ם (of Adullam). וַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּ (And heard it) אֶחָיו֙ (his brothers) וְכָל־ (and all) בֵּ֣ית (the house) אָבִ֔יו (of his father), וַיֵּרְד֥וּ (and they went down) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) שָֽׁמָּה׃ (there). 2  וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּ (And gathered) אֵ֠לָיו (to him) כָּל־ (every) אִ֨ישׁ (man) מָצ֜וֹק (in distress), וְכָל־ (and every) אִ֨ישׁ (man) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) ל֤וֹ (himself) נֹשֶׁא֙ (was indebted), וְכָל־ (and) אִ֣ישׁ (everyone) מַר־ (bitter) נֶ֔פֶשׁ (in soul), וַיְהִ֥י (and he was) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (over them) לְשָׂ֑ר (captain). וַיִּהְי֣וּ (And there were) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him) כְּאַרְבַּ֥ע (about four) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

3  וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ (And went) דָּוִ֛ד (David) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there) מִצְפֵּ֣ה (to Mizpeh) מוֹאָ֑ב (of Moab), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (and he said) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) מוֹאָ֗ב (of Moab), יֵֽצֵא־ (Let go forth), נָ֞א (please), אָבִ֤י (my father) וְאִמִּי֙ (and mother) אִתְּכֶ֔ם (with you⁺), עַ֚ד (until) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אֵדַ֔ע (I know) מַה־ (what) יַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ (will do) לִּ֖י (for me) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (God). 4  וַיַּנְחֵ֕ם (And he brought them) אֶת־ (in) פְּנֵ֖י (before) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) מוֹאָ֑ב (of Moab), וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ (and they dwelt) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him) כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֥י (the time) הֱיוֹת־ (that was) דָּוִ֖ד (David) בַּמְּצוּדָֽה׃ס (in the stronghold).

5  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) גָּ֨ד (Gad) הַנָּבִ֜יא (the prophet) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), לֹ֤א (Not) תֵשֵׁב֙ (do stay) בַּמְּצוּדָ֔ה (in the stronghold). לֵ֥ךְ (Depart) וּבָֽאתָ־ (and go) לְּךָ֖ (into) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah). וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And departed) דָּוִ֔ד (David) וַיָּבֹ֖א (and entered) יַ֥עַר (the forest) חָֽרֶת׃ס (of Hereth).

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob
(Psalm 52:1–9)

6  וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (And heard) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) כִּ֚י (that) נוֹדַ֣ע (had become known) דָּוִ֔ד (David) וַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים (and the men) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him). וְשָׁאוּל֩ (And Saul) יוֹשֵׁ֨ב (was staying) בַּגִּבְעָ֜ה (in Gibeah) תַּֽחַת־ (under) הָאֶ֤שֶׁל (the tamarisk tree) בָּֽרָמָה֙ (on the height), וַחֲנִית֣וֹ (and his spear) בְיָד֔וֹ (was in his hand), וְכָל־ (and all) עֲבָדָ֖יו (his servants) נִצָּבִ֥ים (were standing) עָלָֽיו׃ (around him).

7  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) לַֽעֲבָדָיו֙ (to his servants) הַנִּצָּבִ֣ים (who stood) עָלָ֔יו (around him), שִׁמְעוּ־ (Listen) נָ֖א (now), בְּנֵ֣י (sons) יְמִינִ֑י (of Benjamin)! גַּם־ (Also) לְכֻלְּכֶ֗ם (to all of you⁺) יִתֵּ֤ן (will give) בֶּן־ (the son) יִשַׁי֙ (of Jesse) שָׂד֣וֹת (fields) וּכְרָמִ֔ים (and vineyards), לְכֻלְּכֶ֣ם (you⁺ all) יָשִׂ֔ים (and make) שָׂרֵ֥י (captains) אֲלָפִ֖ים (of thousands) וְשָׂרֵ֥י (and captains) מֵאֽוֹת׃ (of hundreds). 8  כִּי֩ (For) קְשַׁרְתֶּ֨ם (you⁺ have conspired) כֻּלְּכֶ֜ם (all) עָלַ֗י (against me), וְאֵין־ (and there is no one) גֹּלֶ֤ה (uncovering) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנִי֙ (my ear) בִּכְרָת־ (that has cut in) בְּנִ֣י (my son) עִם־ (with) בֶּן־ (the son) יִשַׁ֔י (of Jesse). וְאֵין־ (And none) חֹלֶ֥ה (has shown concern) מִכֶּ֛ם (of you⁺) עָלַ֖י (for me) וְגֹלֶ֣ה (or uncovering) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנִ֑י (to me) כִּ֣י (that) הֵקִים֩ (has stirred up) בְּנִ֨י (my son) אֶת־ (-) עַבְדִּ֥י (my servant) עָלַ֛י (against me) לְאֹרֵ֖ב (to lie in wait), כַּיּ֥וֹם (as the day) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this)?

9  וַיַּ֜עַן (And answered) דֹּאֵ֣ג (Doeg) הָאֲדֹמִ֗י (the Edomite), וְה֛וּא (and he) נִצָּ֥ב (was set) עַל־ (over) עַבְדֵֽי־ (the servants) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul), וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and he said), רָאִ֙יתִי֙ (I saw) אֶת־ (-) בֶּן־ (the son) יִשַׁ֔י (of Jesse) בָּ֣א (going) נֹ֔בֶה (to Nob), אֶל־ (to) אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ (Ahimelech) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִטֽוּב׃ (of Ahitub). 10  וַיִּשְׁאַל־ (And he inquired) לוֹ֙ (for him) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְצֵידָ֖ה (and provisions) נָ֣תַן (he gave) ל֑וֹ (to him), וְאֵ֗ת (and) חֶ֛רֶב (the sword) גָּלְיָ֥ת (of Goliath) הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י (the Philistine) נָ֥תַן (he gave) לֽוֹ׃ (to him).

11  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And sent) הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (the king) לִקְרֹא֩ (to call) אֶת־ (-) אֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ (Ahimelech) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיט֜וּב (of Ahitub), הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (the priest), וְאֵ֨ת (and) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֥ית (house) אָבִ֛יו (of his father), הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) בְּנֹ֑ב (in Nob). וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (And they came) כֻלָּ֖ם (all) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ס (the king). 12  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), שְֽׁמַֽע־ (Hear) נָ֖א (now), בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיט֑וּב (of Ahitub).

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he answered), הִנְנִ֥י (Behold), אֲדֹנִֽי׃ (my lord).

13  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלוֹ (to him) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), לָ֚מָּה (Why) קְשַׁרְתֶּ֣ם (have you⁺ conspired) עָלַ֔י (against me), אַתָּ֖ה (you) וּבֶן־ (and the son) יִשָׁ֑י (of Jesse), בְּתִתְּךָ֨ (in your giving) ל֜וֹ (to him) לֶ֣חֶם (bread) וְחֶ֗רֶב (and a sword), וְשָׁא֥וֹל (and inquiring) לוֹ֙ (for him) בֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים (of God), לָק֥וּם (that he should rise) אֵלַ֛י (against me) לְאֹרֵ֖ב (to lie in wait), כַּיּ֥וֹם (as the day) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this)?

14  וַיַּ֧עַן (And answered) אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ (Ahimelech) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), וּמִ֤י (And who) בְכָל־ (among all) עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (your servants) כְּדָוִ֣ד (as David) נֶאֱמָ֔ן (is as faithful), וַחֲתַ֥ן (and son-in-law) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (of the king), וְסָ֥ר (and has turned aside) אֶל־ (at) מִשְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ךָ (your council), וְנִכְבָּ֥ד (and is honorable) בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃ (in your house)? 15  הַיּ֧וֹם (Today) הַחִלֹּ֛תִי (did I begin) לְשָׁאוֹל (to inquire) ל֥וֹ (for him) בֵאלֹהִ֖ים (of God)? חָלִ֣ילָה (Far be it) לִּ֑י (from me)! אַל־ (Not) יָשֵׂם֩ (let impute) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (the king) בְּעַבְדּ֤וֹ (to his servant) דָבָר֙ (anything), בְּכָל־ (or to any in) בֵּ֣ית (the house) אָבִ֔י (of my father). כִּ֠י (For) לֹֽא־ (nothing) יָדַ֤ע (knew) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (your servant) בְּכָל־ (of all) זֹ֔את (this) דָּבָ֥ר (matter), קָטֹ֖ן (small) א֥וֹ (or) גָדֽוֹל׃ (great).

16  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), מ֥וֹת (Dying) תָּמ֖וּת (you will die), אֲחִימֶ֑לֶךְ (Ahimelech), אַתָּ֖ה (you) וְכָל־ (and all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) אָבִֽיךָ׃ (of your father).

17  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (the king) לָרָצִים֩ (to the guards) הַנִּצָּבִ֨ים (who stood) עָלָ֜יו (beside him) סֹ֥בּוּ (Turn) וְהָמִ֣יתוּ׀ (and kill) כֹּהֲנֵ֣י (the priests) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), כִּ֤י (because) גַם־ (also) יָדָם֙ (their hands are) עִם־ (with) דָּוִ֔ד (David), וְכִ֤י (and because) יָֽדְעוּ֙ (they knew) כִּֽי־ (when) בֹרֵ֣חַ (fled) ה֔וּא (he) וְלֹ֥א (and not) גָל֖וּ (did tell it) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנוֹ (to me).

וְלֹֽא־ (Not) אָב֞וּ (would) עַבְדֵ֤י (the servants) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ (lift) אֶת־ (-) יָדָ֔ם (their hands) לִפְגֹ֖עַ (to strike) בְּכֹהֲנֵ֥י (the priests) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

18  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) לְדוֹיֵג (to Doeg), סֹ֣ב (Turn) אַתָּ֔ה (you) וּפְגַ֖ע (and kill) בַּכֹּהֲנִ֑ים (the priests).

וַיִּסֹּ֞ב (And turned) דּוֹיֵג (Doeg) הָאֲדֹמִ֗י (the Edomite), וַיִּפְגַּע־ (and he attacked) הוּא֙ (himself) בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests). וַיָּ֣מֶת׀ (And he killed) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on day) הַה֗וּא (that) שְׁמֹנִ֤ים (eighty) וַחֲמִשָּׁה֙ (and five) אִ֔ישׁ (men) נֹשֵׂ֖א (who wore) אֵפ֥וֹד (ephod) בָּֽד׃ (a linen). 19  וְאֵ֨ת (And) נֹ֤ב (Nob), עִיר־ (the city) הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (of the priests), הִכָּ֣ה (he struck) לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חֶ֔רֶב (of the sword), מֵאִישׁ֙ (from men) וְעַד־ (and to) אִשָּׁ֔ה (women), מֵעוֹלֵ֖ל (from children) וְעַד־ (and to) יוֹנֵ֑ק (nursing infants), וְשׁ֧וֹר (and oxen), וַחֲמ֛וֹר (and donkeys), וָשֶׂ֖ה (and sheep), לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חָֽרֶב׃ (of the sword).

20  וַיִּמָּלֵ֣ט (And escaped) בֵּן־ (son) אֶחָ֗ד (one) לַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ (of Ahimelech) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִט֔וּב (of Ahitub), וּשְׁמ֖וֹ (and his name) אֶבְיָתָ֑ר (was Abiathar), וַיִּבְרַ֖ח (and fled) אַחֲרֵ֥י (after) דָוִֽד׃ (David). 21  וַיַּגֵּ֥ד (And told) אֶבְיָתָ֖ר (Abiathar) לְדָוִ֑ד (David) כִּ֚י (that) הָרַ֣ג (had killed) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) אֵ֖ת (-) כֹּהֲנֵ֥י (the priests) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

22  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜ד (David) לְאֶבְיָתָ֗ר (to Abiathar), יָדַ֜עְתִּי (I knew) בַּיּ֤וֹם (day) הַהוּא֙ (that), כִּֽי־ (when) שָׁם֙ (was there) דּוֹיֵג (Doeg) הָאֲדֹמִ֔י (the Edomite), כִּֽי־ (that) הַגֵּ֥ד (telling) יַגִּ֖יד (he told) לְשָׁא֑וּל (Saul). אָנֹכִ֣י (Myself) סַבֹּ֔תִי (I have turned) בְּכָל־ (against every) נֶ֖פֶשׁ (soul) בֵּ֥ית (of the house) אָבִֽיךָ׃ (of your father). 23  שְׁבָ֤ה (Stay) אִתִּי֙ (with me); אַל־ (not) תִּירָ֔א (do fear), כִּ֛י (for) אֲשֶׁר־ (he who) יְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (seeks) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשִׁ֖י (my life) יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (seeks) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ (your life), כִּֽי־ (but) מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת (safe) אַתָּ֖ה (are you) עִמָּדִֽי׃ (with me).