1 Samuel 22

David Builds His Squad / Saul Goes Off

1 David left Gath and hid in a cave called Adullam. When his brothers and fam heard, they pulled up to be with him.

2 Soon, all kinds of folks started coming, the broke, the bitter, the stressed out, the ones with nothing left. David became their leader. He had about 400 real ones with him.

David Finds Shelter for His Parents

3 From there, David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king, “Let my parents stay here till I figure out what God wants me to do.”

4 So David’s parents stayed with the king of Moab as long as David was hiding out.

The Prophet Steps In

5 Then the prophet Gad told David, “Do not stay in this cave. Bounce and head to Judah.” So David dipped out to the forest of Hereth.

Saul Spiraling

6 Saul got word that David and his squad had been spotted. He was sitting under a tree with his spear in hand, surrounded by his boys.

7 Saul said, “Y’all think Jesse’s son is going to give y’all land and rank? Is he going to make y’all commanders? Is that why y’all are quiet?”

8 “You all knew he made a pact with my son and did not say nothing, Not one of you all told me my own son was helping him set me up!”

Doeg Snitches

9 Then Doeg the Edomite spoke up: “I saw Jesse’s son in Nob with Ahimelech the priest.”

10 “He prayed for him, gave him food, and handed him Goliath’s sword.”

Saul Sends for the Priests

11 Saul sent for Ahimelech and all his family, the priests from Nob, and they came.

12 Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” Ahimelech said, “I am here, my king.”

13 Saul said, “Why you help Jesse’s son, Gave him food, prayed for him, armed him, so he could rise up against me?”

Ahimelech Defends David

14 Ahimelech said, “Hold up. Who in your whole kingdom is more loyal than David, He is your son-in-law, leads your army, and is respected.

15 This is not the first time I prayed for him. I am not part of no setup, king. Do not lay this on me or my people, we knew nothing.”

Saul Orders the Kill

16 Saul said, “You are going to die, Ahimelech, you and your whole fam.”

17 He told his guards, “Kill these priests. They riding with David.” But the guards backed up. They were not about to lay hands on the Lord’s priests.

18 So Saul turned to Doeg: “You do it.” Doeg the Edomite stepped up and murked eighty-five priests that day.

19 Then he hit Nob, the priest town, men, women, kids, babies, cattle, donkeys, sheep. Wiped everything out.

One Survivor

20 But one of Ahimelech’s sons, Abiathar, got away and ran to David.

21 He told David what Saul did to the priests.

22 David said, “I knew Doeg would snitch when I saw him that day. This one is on me, I got your fam killed.”

23 “Stay with me. Do not be scared. The one trying to kill you is after me too. But if you stay here, you are safe.”