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David Goes to Adullam and Mizpah

22 So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s family[a] learned about it, they went down there to him. All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented[b] gathered around[c] him, and he became their leader. He had about 400 men with him.

Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay[d] with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time[e] that David was in the stronghold. Then Gad the prophet said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Saul Executes the Priests

But Saul found out the whereabouts of David and the men who were with him.[f] Now Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at an elevated location with his spear in hand and all his servants stationed around him. Saul said to his servants, “Listen up, you Benjaminites! Is Jesse’s son giving fields and vineyards to all of you? Or is he making all of you[g] commanders and officers?[h] For all of you have conspired against me! No one informs me[i] when my own son makes an agreement with the son of Jesse. Not one of you feels sorry for me or informs me that my own son has commissioned my own servant to hide in ambush against me, as is the case today!”

But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with the servants of Saul, replied, “I saw this son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 He inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king arranged for a meeting with the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priests of his father’s house who were at Nob. They all came to the king. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He replied, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave[j] him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes[k] me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!”

14 Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is faithful like David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the leader of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse[l] his servant or any of my father’s house, for your servant is not aware of all this—not in whole or in part!”[m]

16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!” 17 Then the king said to the messengers[n] who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided[o] with David. They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm[p] the priests of the Lord.

18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five[q] men who wore the linen ephod. 19 As for Nob, the city of the priests, Doeg struck down men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep—all with the sword.

20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I am guilty[r] of all the deaths in your father’s house. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid. Whoever[s] seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 22:1 tn Heb “house.”
  2. 1 Samuel 22:2 tn Heb “bitter of soul.”
  3. 1 Samuel 22:2 tn Heb “to.”
  4. 1 Samuel 22:3 tn Heb “go forth.”
  5. 1 Samuel 22:4 tn Heb “all the days.”
  6. 1 Samuel 22:6 tn Heb “and Saul heard that David and the men who were with him were known.”
  7. 1 Samuel 22:7 tc The MT has “to all of you.” If this reading is correct, we have here an example of a prepositional phrase functioning as the equivalent of a dative of advantage, which is not impossible from a grammatical point of view. However, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate all have “and.” A conjunction rather than a preposition should probably be read on the front of this phrase.
  8. 1 Samuel 22:7 tn Heb “officers of a thousand and officers of a hundred.”
  9. 1 Samuel 22:8 tn Heb “uncovers my ear.”
  10. 1 Samuel 22:13 tn Heb “by giving.”
  11. 1 Samuel 22:13 tn Heb “rises up against.”
  12. 1 Samuel 22:15 tn Heb “set a matter against.”
  13. 1 Samuel 22:15 tn Heb “small or great.”
  14. 1 Samuel 22:17 tn Heb “runners.”
  15. 1 Samuel 22:17 tn Heb “their hand is.”
  16. 1 Samuel 22:17 tn Heb “to extend their hand to harm.”
  17. 1 Samuel 22:18 tc The number is confused in the Greek ms tradition. The LXX, with the exception of the Lucianic recension, has the number 305. The Lucianic recension, along with a couple of Old Latin mss, has the number 350.
  18. 1 Samuel 22:22 tc The translation follows the LXX, which reads “I am guilty,” rather than the MT, which has “I have turned.”
  19. 1 Samuel 22:23 tn Or “the one who.” This may refer specifically to Saul, in which case David acknowledges that Abiathar’s life is endangered because of his allegiance to David. The translation assumes that the statement is more generalized, meaning that any enemy of Abiathar is an enemy of David. In other words, David promises that he will protect Abiathar with his very own life.

David huye a Adulán y a Mizpa

22 David se fue de Gat y huyó a la cueva de Adulán. Cuando sus hermanos y el resto de la familia se enteraron, fueron a verlo allí. Además, se le unieron muchos otros que estaban en apuros, cargados de deudas o amargados. Así, David llegó a tener bajo su mando a unos cuatrocientos hombres.

De allí se dirigió a Mizpa, en Moab, y le pidió al rey de ese lugar: «Deja que mis padres vengan a vivir entre vosotros hasta que yo sepa lo que Dios quiere de mí». Fue así como dejó a sus padres con el rey de Moab, y ellos se quedaron allí todo el tiempo que David permaneció en su refugio.

Pero el profeta Gad le dijo a David: «No te quedes en el refugio. Es mejor que regreses a la tierra de Judá». Entonces David se fue de allí, y se metió en el bosque de Jaret.

Saúl elimina a los sacerdotes de Nob

Mientras Saúl estaba sentado a la sombra de un tamarisco que había en la colina de Guibeá, se enteró de que David y sus hombres habían sido localizados. Tenía Saúl su lanza en la mano, y lo rodeaban todos sus oficiales, a quienes les dijo:

―¡Poned atención, hombres de Benjamín! ¿También vosotros creéis que el hijo de Isaí os va a dar tierras y viñedos, y que a todos os va a nombrar jefes de mil y de cien soldados? ¡Ahora veo por qué todos vosotros conspiráis contra mí, y por qué nadie me informa del pacto que mi hijo ha hecho con el hijo de Isaí! Nadie se ha tomado la molestia de avisarme que mi propio hijo instiga a uno de mis súbditos a que se subleve y me aceche, como en realidad está pasando.

Doeg el edomita, que se encontraba entre los oficiales de Saúl, le dijo:

―Yo vi al hijo de Isaí reunirse en Nob con Ajimélec hijo de Ajitob. 10 Ajimélec consultó al Señor por David y le dio provisiones, y hasta le entregó la espada de Goliat.

11 Entonces el rey mandó llamar al sacerdote Ajimélec hijo de Ajitob, y a todos sus parientes, que eran sacerdotes en Nob. Cuando llegaron, 12 Saúl le dijo:

―Escucha, hijo de Ajitob.

―Dime, mi señor —respondió Ajimélec.

13 ―¿Por qué tú y el hijo de Isaí conspiráis contra mí? —le preguntó Saúl—. Le diste comida y una espada. También consultaste a Dios por él para que se subleve y me aceche, como en realidad está pasando.

14 Ajimélec le respondió al rey:

―¿Quién entre todos los oficiales del rey es tan fiel como tu yerno David, jefe de la guardia real y respetado en el palacio? 15 ¿Es acaso esta la primera vez que consulto a Dios por él? ¡Claro que no! No debiera el rey acusarnos ni a mí ni a mi familia, pues de este asunto tu siervo no sabe absolutamente nada.

16 ―¡Te llegó la hora, Ajimélec! —replicó el rey—. ¡Y no solo a ti, sino a toda tu familia!

17 De inmediato el rey ordenó a los guardias que lo acompañaban:

―¡Matad a los sacerdotes del Señor, que ellos también se han puesto de parte de David! Sabían que estaba huyendo, y sin embargo no me lo dijeron.

Pero los oficiales del rey no se atrevieron a levantar la mano en contra de los sacerdotes del Señor. 18 Así que el rey le ordenó a Doeg:

―¡Pues mátalos tú!

Entonces Doeg el edomita se lanzó contra ellos y los mató. Aquel día mató a ochenta y cinco hombres que tenían puesto el efod de lino. 19 Luego fue a Nob, el pueblo de los sacerdotes, y mató a filo de espada a hombres y mujeres, a niños y recién nacidos, y hasta los bueyes, asnos y ovejas.

20 Sin embargo, un hijo de Ajimélec, llamado Abiatar, logró escapar y huyó hasta encontrarse con David. 21 Cuando le informó de que Saúl había matado a los sacerdotes del Señor, 22 David le respondió:

―Ya desde aquel día, cuando vi a Doeg en Nob, sabía yo que él le avisaría a Saúl. Yo tengo la culpa de que hayan muerto todos tus parientes. 23 Pero no tengas miedo. Quédate conmigo, que aquí estarás a salvo. Quien quiera matarte tendrá que matarme a mí.

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave(A) of Adullam.(B) When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered(C) around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Moab,(D) and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

But the prophet Gad(E) said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.(F)

Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated,(G) spear in hand, under the tamarisk(H) tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders(I) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired(J) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant(K) with the son of Jesse.(L) None of you is concerned(M) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

But Doeg(N) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub(O) at Nob.(P) 10 Ahimelek inquired(Q) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions(R) and the sword(S) of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired(T) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who(U) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.(V)

17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling(W) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”(X) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.(Y) 19 He also put to the sword(Z) Nob,(AA) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,(AB) named Abiathar,(AC) escaped and fled to join David.(AD) 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg(AE) the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. 23 Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you(AF) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

22 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)

Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye 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;

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?

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 die, 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 tell 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.