1 Samuel 22:6-23

[6] When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing [7] Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; [8] That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? [9] Then answered Doeg the Edomite, 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 enquired 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, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. [13] And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? [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 goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? [15] Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. [16] And the king said, Thou shalt surely Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. [17] And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. 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 thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. [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, escaped, and fled after David. [21] And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. [22] And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house. [23] Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

What is the context of 1 Samuel 22:6-23?

What does 1 Samuel 22:6-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The writer"s attention focused next on Saul"s activities. He used the literary device of focusing on David, then on Saul, then on David, etc. He used the same technique in chapters1-3with Samuel and Eli"s sons to contrast Samuel"s goodness with the wickedness of Hophni and Phinehas. The same purpose is in view in chapters21-31with David and Saul.

Saul was aware that some in his army, apparently even some of his tribal kinsmen from Benjamin, had deserted to David ( 1 Samuel 22:7). He showed signs of paranoia when he claimed that Jonathan had encouraged David to ambush him ( 1 Samuel 22:8; 1 Samuel 22:13). There is no indication that Jonathan had done this. Doeg was obviously loyal to Saul ( 1 Samuel 22:9-10), but he proved disloyal to Yahweh ( 1 Samuel 22:18-19).

Ahimelech appealed to Saul on David"s behalf much as Jonathan had done earlier ( 1 Samuel 22:14-15; cf. 1 Samuel 17:4-5). Nevertheless this time Saul did not respond to reasonable persuasion ( 1 Samuel 22:16). Saul"s disregard for Yahweh"s will is obvious in his command to kill the priests-whom God had appointed to serve Him. This punishment was entirely too severe, since the crime Saul charged them with was simply failing to tell Saul where David was.

Saul"s soldiers had too much respect for the priesthood to slay the anointed servants of the Lord ( 1 Samuel 22:17). Moreover they probably realized that Saul"s order was irrational. Doeg was an Edomite, a foreigner who had less respect for the Mosaic Law (cf. 1 Samuel 21:7). He not only obeyed the king but went beyond Saul"s command and slaughtered all the men, women, children, and animals in Nob ( 1 Samuel 22:19). Nonetheless Saul was also responsible ( 1 Samuel 22:21). Earlier Saul had failed to slay all the Amalekites at the Lord"s command ( 1 Samuel 15:9). Now he was slaying all the Nobites without divine authorization.

"Through the hand of a foreigner, Saul perpetrates upon Israelites, priests of the Lord, what he himself did not perpetrate upon foreigners, the Amalekites." ^[1]

God preserved one of Eli"s descendants even though85 other priests died. This man fled to David, so from then on the priesthood was with David rather than Saul. David acknowledged that his deception of Ahimelech was responsible for the slaughter of the priests ( 1 Samuel 22:22; cf. 1 Samuel 21:2). David became the protector of the priesthood. The king-elect and the priest-elect now became fellow fugitives from Saul. Psalm 52provides insight into how David felt during this incident.

When people refuse to submit to God"s authority over them, they begin to die: spiritually, socially, psychologically, and physically ( Romans 6:23). Eli and Saul had both refused to submit to God"s authority. Eli, the priest, put his family before God. Consequently God cut off his family. Even though David was the cause of85 priests" deaths, this was one way God partially fulfilled the prophecy concerning Eli"s descendants ( 1 Samuel 2:27-36). God used David"s folly to accomplish His will. So even in this David became a blessing. This in no way justifies David"s lie ( 1 Samuel 21:2), but it does show how even in his sinning, David was used by God for blessing (cf. Psalm 76:10; Romans 6:1-2). Saul, the king, put himself before God. Therefore God cut off his life. Saul became increasingly paranoid, isolated from others, hateful toward his supporters as well as his enemies, and guilty of shedding innocent blood.

Conversely, when people submit to God"s authority over them, they really begin to live ( John 10:10). David submitted to God"s authority over him. His sins, including deceiving Ahimelech, bore bad consequences for himself and others. Nevertheless God continued to bless and use David. He blessed him personally: David continued to rise to the throne. God also blessed him by using him to accomplish God"s will, here the pruning of Eli"s descendants.

Therefore we conclude that the most important issue is one of long-term authority, not incidental acts. Acts are important, but who is in control-God or self-is even more important. For a believer the most important issue is authority. Believers can determine who is in control of our lives fairly easily by asking ourselves two test questions. Do I ask God for guidance, or do I ignore Him and make my own plans and decisions without praying? And, do I submit to His word, or do I disobey it, having ignored it or disregarded it?