UNROLL
The hills of Adullam at dusk: low, rounded white limestone hills with scrub and a few terebinths, and in a pale cliff above a dry wadi the dark mouths of several caves, one faintly lit by a fire within, under a calm amber sky.

The Book of

1 Samuel 22

A cave full of desperate men, a king who trusts no one, and a town of priests that pays for one lie.

23 verses≈ 5 min6 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–7SamuelA boy who listened
  2. 8–15SaulA king like the nations
  3. 16–20David risesThe LORD looks at the heart
  4. 21–27David huntedThe anointed one waitsChapter 22
  5. 28–31Saul fallsEndor and Gilboa
JudahMoabRamahNob (site uncertain)GathAdullamBethlehem

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

David on the run

From Saul’s house at Gibeah, David fled to Samuel at Ramah, then to the priests at Nob, then to the Philistines at Gath. From there he hid in “the cave of Adullam” in Judah, and his family came down to him from Bethlehem. He took his parents to the king of Moab for safety and came back into Judah at the prophet’s word. Gibeah lies just south of Ramah. The site of Nob is uncertain, and so are Mizpeh of Moab and the forest of Hereth.

David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh

From inside a limestone cave at evening, looking out: David, bearded now, sits on a rock at the cave mouth with his knees drawn up, a long cloth-wrapped sword beside him, gazing over the darkening hills; a small fire burns behind him.

So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam.

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Dusk before the caves of Adullam: a ragged company of men of every age gathered around cooking fires on the slope, with old spears and staffs and patched cloaks; David stands among them speaking, and his gray-bearded father and brothers sit near the fire.

Who came to him

David’s company

  1. Family

    His brothers and his father’s house

    When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.

  2. The outcasts

    The distressed, indebted, discontented

    And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader.

  3. His band

    About four hundred men

    About four hundred men were with him.

Question

Quick question

David hid in a cave, and people began to find him there: his family first, then many others.

About how many men gathered to David at the cave of Adullam?

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob

Midday on the bare hilltop of Gibeah: Saul, a head taller than all, sits on a stone seat in the feathery shade of a great tamarisk with his bronze-headed spear upright in his fist; officers in wool cloaks stand around him in a half circle, uneasy, eyes down.

Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.

Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds? Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.

Saul

“Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul.

Ahimelech

“Here I am, my lord,” he replied.

Saul

And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

Ahimelech

Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”

Saul

But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”

Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.”

But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

Dusk in a rocky wadi: a young priest in a white linen tunic runs alone down a stony path, clutching a linen-wrapped bundle to his chest and looking back; far behind on the ridge the low houses of Nob stand silent, no one in sight.

But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

0:11

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.

Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.

1 Samuel 22:23

Pray

Safe with Him

Abiathar ran to David and heard, “You will be safe with me.” Pray for those who suffer for doing right. Thank God for the courage of the guards who “would not lift a hand.” Ask for honesty to own your part when your wrongs hurt others, and thank Him that He shelters the hunted.

You’ve experienced

1 Samuel 22

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A verse to carry with you

Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.

1 Samuel 22:23

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