3. (1 Sam 22:11-15) Saul accuses Ahimelech of conspiracy with David
Then the king sent someone to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's household, the priests who were in Nob; and all of them came to the king. Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." And he answered, "Here I am, my lord." Saul then said to him, "Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he would rise up against me by lying in ambush as it is this day?" Then Ahimelch answered the king and said, "And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king's son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your household? Did I just begin to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any of the household of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all of this whole affair."
Then the king sent someone to summon Ahimelech...and all his father's household: Doeg's suggestion that the priests were David's allies at once arouses Saul's worst passions. The sending for all the priestly house to Gibeah when Ahimelech alone is to blame--if there was blame--looks as though Doeg and Saul had predetermined the wholesale massacre which followed.
Listen now, son of Ahitub: Saul gives a direct charge against Ahimelech; yet, he does not address Ahimelech by his name or title of high priest, which shows Saul's great contempt for the priesthood.
And he answered, "Here I am, my lord.": Despite not receiving any respect by Saul, Ahimelech gives great honor to King Saul, by addressing the king as "lord". It seems Ahimelech knows he is innocent of any charge the king may present against him and with great boldness is ready to hear what the king has to say to him.
And who among your servants is as faithful as David: The words of the high priest were no doubt the general sentiments of the people respecting David. What Ahimelech, the guardian of the sanctuary, had done was nothing extraordinary to assist one of Saul's most loyal and devoted servants as David had proven himself to be.
Did I begin to inquire of God for him today: It was probably usual to consult God by the high priest's Urim and Thummin on all matters of importance. David, as a high officer in Saul's court, must have often consulted the high priest before starting out on his expeditions.
Urim and Thummin: The meaning of the words Urim and Thummin are unknown. Some scholars believe the words mean "lights and perfections". These items were part of the breast plate worn by the high priest. Many believe the items were colored rocks stored inside a pouch. The high priest would inquire of the LORD and reach his hand into the pouch. Depending on which rock the high priest drew out of the pouch determined what God's answer to the question was. The Urim and Thummin first appear in Exodus 28:30: "You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and Thummin, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD; and Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually."
4. (1 Sam 22:16-19) Saul commands the execution of the priests and their familites, and Doeg the Edomite carries it out
But the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!" And the king said to the guards who were attending to him, "Turn around and put the priests of the LORD to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me." But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the LORD. Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn around and attack the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. And he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; also oxen, donkeys, and sheep he struck with the edge of the sword.
You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's house: Saul was in such a deep state of sin and rebellion, he could not tolerate to see an innocent, guiltless man like Ahimelech disagree with him. So, Saul commanded him to be murdered.
This is quite a change in Saul's character. In 1 Samuel 15:0, Saul was commanded to kill the enemies o the LORD. But Saul only fulfilled part of the command and spared Agag the king. Now, Saul seems eager to kill the LORD'S priests in cold blood. Saul is clearly being tormented by the evil spirit and is slipping farther and farther away from sanity. Perhaps Saul was still angry at God for taking away the kingdom from him. One way Saul could retaliate was by killing the LORD'S priests. Of all the treacherous things Saul had done in his life, this was by far the worst act Saul ever did.
The guards who were attending to him: The Hebrew here is better translated as "runners". These were the men who ran by the side of the king's horse and chariot as his escort. In constant training, there were capable of maintaining a great speed for a long time. Here there were present at the king's council as his body guards.
But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands: The servants are tremendously brave and courageous. Here, they directly disobey the king's order, an act which could mean execution of their own lives. As powerful as Saul was, it is comforting to see that people in Saul's kingdom still honored God and knew God's commandments, i.e., "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). Although it is heart-warming to see that Saul's servants did not fulfill Saul's command, it is heartbreaking to see that these servants did nothing to stop Doeg from killing the priests. As courageous as it was for them to disobey Saul, it would have been even more heroic if they would have tried to stop Doeg from carrying out his mass slaughter of the priests. It is often easy to say "no" and be disobedient, but the true test comes in defending the innocent and protecting the guiltless.
Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests: It is very likely Doeg did not kill all these people by himself. He most likely was assisted by his own loyal servants. For this heinous act, Doeg has been recorded in most ancient Jewish writings as the most wicked man who meets us in the Holy Scriptures.
He killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod: Not satisfied with wreaking his rage on innocent men, Saul next destroys the city of the priests, barbarously massacring their whole families, both men and women, children and infants, and even their livestock. It is an act in strange contrast with the pretended mercy Saul showed when he spared Agag and the best of the Amalekite spoil on the pretense of religion (See 1 Samuel 15:1-9).
Only once before had such a terrible calamity befallen the descendants of Aaron. That was when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and killed Hophni and Phinehas (and subsequently the high priest Eli died upon hearing the terrible news about his sons and the Ark of the Covenant). (See 1 Samuel 4) But, the Philistines were enemies of the Israelites, and they even allowed the women and children to escape. Saul, however, killed his own countrymen in cold blood.
The linen ephod: The ordinary priests appear to have worn a linen apron over their garment. The priests probably came from Nob to Gibeah clad in their official custom out of respect to the king who sent for them. The murderous act assumes a more gruesome character when we imagine the victims, the priests of the living God, clad in their white ministering robes.
Prophecy fulfilled: The doom upon the house of Eli prophesied in 1 Samuel 2:31 ("Behold, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father's house so that there will not be a old man in your house.") becomes fulfilled by Doeg's actions. So heavy of a blow was inflicted on the house of Ithamar, that when David organizes the courses of the priests for the temple service only eight "chief men" could be found in it, against sixteen in the family of Eleazar (1 Chronicles 24:4).
5. (1 Sam 22:20-23) David protects Abiathar, the only survivor of Ahimelech's family
But one son of Ahimelech, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Then David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought about the death of every person in your father's household. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, for you are safe with me."
Abiathar: Of those who dwelt at Nob, only one single priest, Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, seems to have escaped the massacre. It has been suggested that when his father and the whole body of priests went to Gibeah, in accordance with the summons of King Saul, Abiathar remained behind to perform the necessary functions of the sanctuary. When he heard of the death of his father and his brother priests, he made his escape and eventually joined David. The exact time period of his coming to David and his exiled gang is uncertain. There seems to be no mention of time anywhere. It seems probable that the meeting and interview with David in 2 Samuel 22:20 and following verses did not happen immediately after the massacre at Gibeah.
After the death of Ahimelech, Abiathar became the high priest. Abiathar occupies an important place in the story of David's life. Throughout David's reign, Abiathar continues to be David's faithful friend. The close of his life, however, was less than perfect. In the troubles which arose about the succession of the next king, in the last days of David's life, Abiathar sided with Adonijah. He subsequently was deposed of by the successful ascent to the throne of Solomon from being high priset. Abiathar was sent into banishment to the city of Anathoth. (See 1 Kings 2:26)
I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: David showed how he felt about this in Psalm 52, which says in its title: "A Contemplation of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, 'David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.'"
In Psalm 52, David shows his outrage against Doeg: "Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, lying more than speaking righteousness. You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue." (Psalm 52:1a, 2-4)
In Psalm 52, David shows his confidence in God's judgments: "God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and uproot you from the land of the living." (Psalm 52:5)
In Psalm 52, David shows his focus on the LORD: "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good." (Psalm 52:8-9)
I have brought about the death of every person in your father's household: David meant this in two ways. Firstly, it was David's mere presence with Ahimelech that made him guilt before Saul, and there really wasn't anything David or anyone could do about that. Secondly, David's lying to Ahimelech made the priest vulnerable before Saul. We know from both 1 Samuel and the Psalms that David turned his heart back to the LORD and asked forgiveness after he lies to Ahimelch. David was restored, but there were still bad consequences to come from David's lies.
For you are safe with me: David could not do anything about the priests who were already murdered. He confessed his guilt in the matter and sought forgiveness from the LORD. Now, all he can do is minister to the need in front of him--Abiathar, the surviving priest.
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