1 Samuel 22)
1: David therefore departed from that place, and escaped to the cave Adullam (= justice of the people. See title of Ps. 57): and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down to that place to him. (He had some good friends)
2: And every man that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was bitter of soul (cp. Judg.18:13, "angry": i.e. embittered), gathered themselves to him; and he became a chief (or leader, or prince) over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3: And David went from that place to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said to the king of Moab, “Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, dwell, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.”
4: And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the stronghold (or fortified camp. First occ.).
5: And the prophet Gad said to David, “Abide not in the stronghold; depart, and get you into the land of Judah.” Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth (= thicket).
M h 6-8. Saul's threatening of Benjamites.
i 9,10. Doeg informs against David.
k 11-19. Ahimelech slain by Saul.
k 20,21. Abiathar's escape to David.
i 22. Doeg suspected by David.
h 23. David's assurance to Abiathar.968 to 967 B.C.
6: When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, {now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah (or, in the high place), having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;}
7: Then Saul said to his servants that stood about him, “Hear now, all you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; (he's about to use a bribe on them)
8: That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that shows me that my son has made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that takes pity upon me, or shows to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (he's on a poor-me-baby pity-party crying jag)
9: Then answered Doeg the Edomite (vv.9-16, by Fig. Hysterêsis, give details not contained in former narration [21:1-9]), which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10: And he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11: Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12: And Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.”
13: And Saul said to him, “Why have you all conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (the spirit of jealousy still strong in Saul)
14: Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goes at your bidding (or, comes near for audience. Sept. reads 'is captain over you bodyguard"), and is honorable in your house?
15: Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing to his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.” (in his mind, David could be trusted to the end)
16: And the king said, “You shalt surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house.”
17: And the king said to the runners that stood about him, “Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing, and did not shew it to me” (this is a lie. They didn't know!). But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.
18: And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you, and fall upon the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned (he could care less about God), and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod (thus partly fulfilling 2:31; 3:12, on Eli's hose).
19: And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20: And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar (= the father of abundance), escaped (Saul thus caused the transfer of the High Priest, with the Urim and Thummim, to David), and fled after David.
21: And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests. (Satan was trying to destroy priest line and the Word of God)
22: And David said to Abiathar, “I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of every soul of your father's house. (a mark of David's characteristic tenderness. He knew he should have killed him there. He messed up because of his goodness)
23: Abide you with me, fear not: for he that seeks my soul seeks your soul: but with me you shall be in safeguard.”