1 Samuel 22 KJV: David's Escape and the Priests' Slaughter
The Context: David's Flight from King Saul
In the previous chapter, we saw how King Saul, jealous of David's popularity and success, sought to kill him. David had to flee for his life, leaving behind his comfortable life in the palace. In 1 Samuel 22, we see David's desperate attempts to escape Saul's wrath and find refuge.
David's Refuge in the Cave
1 Samuel 22:1-2 (KJV)
"And David departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men."
David, with a price on his head, fled to the cave of Adullam, a place not far from his hometown of Bethlehem. His brothers and family members, hearing of his whereabouts, joined him in the cave. But what's striking is that people from all walks of life, those in distress, debt, and discontent, began to gather around David. He became their leader, and soon, he had an army of about 400 men.
The Massacre of the Priests at Nob
1 Samuel 22:6-23 (KJV)
"And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And there is none other beside it. And David said, There is none like that; give it me."
Meanwhile, Saul, still obsessed with killing David, learned that Ahimelech, the priest of Nob, had allegedly helped David by giving him bread and Goliath's sword. In a fit of rage, Saul ordered the massacre of the priests at Nob, including Ahimelech and his family, leaving only Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, to escape.
Abiathar's Escape and David's Regret
1 Samuel 22:20-23 (KJV)
"And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. And David said, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house."
David, upon hearing the news of the massacre, felt remorse and regret. He realized that his actions, however unintentional, had led to the death of innocent people, including the priests of Nob. Abiathar, the sole survivor, joined David, and together they mourned the loss of life.
Conclusion
In 1 Samuel 22, we see David's refugee status and his transformation into a leader. We also witness the brutal slaughter of the priests at Nob, a tragedy that David unwittingly contributed to. This chapter serves as a reminder that our actions, even when motivated by good intentions, can have far-reaching and devastating consequences.
