The Meaning of 1 Samuel 22:20 Explained

1 Samuel 22:20

KJV: And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

YLT: And there escapeth one son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, and his name is Abiathar, and he fleeth after David,

Darby: And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

ASV: And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And one  of the sons  of Ahimelech  the son  of Ahitub,  named  Abiathar,  escaped,  and fled  after  David. 

What does 1 Samuel 22:20 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 22:11-23 - The Slaughter Of David's Friends
The Apostle James says that "the tongue is set on fire of hell." Surely this was the case when Saul, encamped on the height above Gibeah, scattered his biting words like firebrands. They met with a ready response in Doeg's evil heart, and the two perpetrated one of the most atrocious tragedies of history.
This black act-the blackest of Saul's life-was not to be extenuated, although it executed the malediction, uttered long before in the days of Eli, against the latter's evil house. That Saul's footmen refused to execute the king's sentence should have made Him hesitate. Doeg's tale was true in its statement, but false in its implications.
There is nothing to alleviate the lurid horror of this incident, except David's welcome to Abiathar. Are not such words addressed by our Lord to all who escape to Him? "Abide with me" may be understood in the light of John 15:1-27. With Christ there is safeguard. "Your life is hid with Christ in God." Fear not, trembling soul; Christ stands surety for thee! See Psalms 52:1-9, where David predicts Doeg's fate, and contrasts it with his own happy lot. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 22

1  Companies resort unto David at Adullam
3  At Mizpeh he commends his parents unto the king of Moab
5  Admonished by Gad, he comes to Hareth,
6  Saul going to pursue him, complains of his servants' unfaithfulness
9  Doeg accuses Ahimelech
11  Saul commands to kill the priests
17  The footmen refusing, Doeg executes it
20  Abiathar escaping, brings David the news

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 22:20 mean?

And escaped the sons of one of Ahimelech son of Ahitub and named Abiathar and fled after David
וַיִּמָּלֵ֣ט בֵּן־ אֶחָ֗ד לַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בֶּן־ אֲחִט֔וּב וּשְׁמ֖וֹ אֶבְיָתָ֑ר וַיִּבְרַ֖ח אַחֲרֵ֥י דָוִֽד

וַיִּמָּלֵ֣ט  And  escaped 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַט 
Sense: to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered.
בֵּן־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֶחָ֗ד  of  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙  of  Ahimelech 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: a priest murdered by Doeg at Saul’s command, for supposedly assisting David.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אֲחִט֔וּב  of  Ahitub 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִיטוּב  
Sense: a grandson of Eli.
וּשְׁמ֖וֹ  and  named 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
אֶבְיָתָ֑ר  Abiathar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיָתָר  
Sense: priest, son of Ahitub (Ahimelech), faithful to David, but later rebelled with Adonijah.
וַיִּבְרַ֖ח  and  fled 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַח 
Sense: to go through, flee, run away, chase, drive away, put to flight, reach, shoot (extend), hurry away.
אַחֲרֵ֥י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
דָוִֽד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.