1 Samuel 22 - Easy To Read Version

¹ David left Gath. David ran away to the cave [187] of Adullam. David’s brothers and relatives heard that David was at Adullam. They went to see David there.

² Many people joined David. There were men who were in some kind of trouble. And there were men who owed a lot of money. And there were men who were just not satisfied with life. All those kinds of people joined David, and David became their leader. David had about 400 men with him.

³ David left Adullam and went to Mizpah in Moab. David said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God is going to do to me.”

⁴ So David left his parents with the king of Moab. David’s parents stayed with the king of Moab as long as David was at the fort.

⁵ But the prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the fort. Go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to Hereth Forest.

⁶ Saul heard that his people had learned about David and his men. Saul was sitting under the tree on the hill at Gibeah. Saul had his spear in his hand. All of his officers were standing around him.

⁷ Saul said to his officers that were standing around him, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Do you think the son of Jesse (David) will give you fields and vineyards? Do you think David will promote you and make you officers over 1,000 men and officers over 100 men?

⁸ You men are plotting against me! You made secret plans. Not one of you told me about my son Jonathan. Not one of you told me that he made an agreement with the son of Jesse! Not one of you cares about me! Not one of you told me that my son Jonathan encouraged David. Jonathan told my servant David to hide and attack me! And that is what David is doing now!”

⁹ Doeg the Edomite was standing there with Saul’s officers. Doeg said, “I saw Jesse’s son (David) at Nob. David came to see Ahimelech son of Ahitub.

¹⁰ Ahimelech prayed to the Lord for David. Ahimelech also gave David food. And Ahimelech gave David the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

¹¹ Then King Saul ordered some men to bring the priest to him. Saul told them to bring Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all his relatives. Ahimelech’s relatives were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king.

¹² Saul said to Ahimelech, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

¹³ Saul said to Ahimelech, “Why did you and Jesse’s son (David) make secret plans against me? You gave David bread and a sword! You prayed to God for him. And right now, David is waiting to attack me!”

¹⁴ Ahimelech answered, “David is very faithful to you. Not one of your other officers is as faithful as David. David is your own son-in-law. And David is the captain of your bodyguards. Your own family respects David.

¹⁵ That was not the first time I prayed to God for David. Not at all. Don’t blame me or any of my relatives. We are your servants. I know nothing about what is happening.”

¹⁶ But the king said, “Ahimelech, you and all your relatives must die!”

¹⁷ Then the king told the guards at his side, “Go and kill the priests of the Lord. Do this because they are on David’s side also. They knew David was running away, but they didn’t tell me!”

¹⁸ So the king gave the order to Doeg. Saul said, “Doeg, you go kill the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite went and killed the priests. That day Doeg killed 85 men who were priests. [188]

¹⁹ Nob was the city of the priests. Doeg killed all the people of Nob. Doeg used his sword and killed men, women, children and small babies. And Doeg killed their cows, donkeys, and sheep.

²⁰ But Abiathar escaped. Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech. Ahimelech was the son of Ahitub. Abiathar ran away and joined David.

²¹ Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests.

²² Then David told Abiathar, “I saw Doeg the Edomite at Nob that day. And I knew he would tell Saul! I am responsible for the death of your father’s family.

²³ Stay with me. Don’t be afraid. Why? Because the man (Saul) who tried to kill you is the same man who wants to kill me. I will protect you if you stay with me.”