1 Samuel 22:1-13 ▼

1 David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father's family heard about this and went down to him there.

2 Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him.

3 David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told the king of Moab, |Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me.|

4 David left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold.

5 The prophet Gad told David, |Don't remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the territory of Judah.| So David left and went into the forest of Hereth.

6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been found, he was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the hill, with his spear in his hand. All his officials were standing around him.

7 Saul told his officials who were standing around him, |Listen, men of Benjamin! Will Jesse's son also give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you officers over thousands and officers over hundreds?

8 But all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me about my son's covenant with Jesse's son. None of you feels sorry for me and tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he's doing this day.|

9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul's servants answered: |I saw Jesse's son coming to Nob to Ahitub's son Ahimelech.

10 Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.|

11 The king sent for Ahitub's son Ahimelech the priest and for all his father's family who were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king.

12 Saul said, |Listen, son of Ahitub!| And he said, |Here I am, your majesty.|

13 Then Saul asked him, |Why have you conspired against me—you and Jesse's son—by giving him food and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so he can rise up against me to lie in wait, as he's doing today?|