1 Samuel 22
Doeg tells Saul he saw David at Nob. Saul orders the priests of Nob slaughtered. Doeg kills eighty-five of them.
Summary
Chapter 22 shows how Saul's paranoia generates catastrophe far beyond its original object. David, in flight, consolidates a ragged following in the cave of Adullam: everyone in distress, in debt, in bitter circumstances — about four hundred men. He arranges for his parents to stay with the king of Moab, out of Saul's reach. The prophet Gad sends him back into Judah. Meanwhile, Saul holds court under a tamarisk tree at Gibeah and accuses his assembled officials of conspiracy — will the son of Jesse give you all fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders? Has none of you told me that my son has stirred up my servant against me? The accusation is driven by fear and is baseless.
Doeg the Edomite speaks up. He saw David at Nob: the priest Ahimelech gave him provisions, inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him the sword of Goliath. Saul summons all the priests of Nob. Ahimelech's defence is dignified and straightforward: David was the king's son-in-law, trusted and honoured; Ahimelech had no reason to think he was doing anything wrong. Saul ignores the defence and orders the priests killed. His guards refuse to raise their hands against the Lord's priests. Saul turns to Doeg. Doeg kills eighty-five men wearing the linen ephod, then attacks the priestly city of Nob and destroys it entirely — men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. One son of Ahimelech, Abiathar, escapes to David. David responds with a statement of responsibility: I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would inform Saul. I am responsible for the lives of all your father's house. Stay with me. Do not be afraid.
- 1 Samuel 1Chapter 1 opens at the sanctuary at Shiloh, where Elkanah of Ephraim brings his household each year to worship.
- 1 Samuel 2Chapter 2 opens with the Song of Hannah, one of the most influential poems in the Hebrew Bible — my heart exults in the Lord, the mighty brought low, the hungry fed, the barren bearing seven.
- 1 Samuel 3Chapter 3 is one of the most carefully paced call narratives in the Hebrew Bible.
- 1 Samuel 4Chapter 4 is the disaster that the previous chapters have been building toward.
- 1 Samuel 5Chapter 5 is the ark narrative in Philistine territory, told with something close to sardonic comedy.
- 1 Samuel 6Chapter 6 is the ark's return to Israel, engineered by Philistine priests who want to know whether their afflictions are the Lord's doing or mere coincidence.
- 1 Samuel 7Chapter 7 is the closing movement of the Samuel-as-judge arc.
- 1 Samuel 8Chapter 8 is the pivot of the entire book.
- 1 Samuel 9Chapter 9 introduces Saul, and the introduction is built on irony.
- 1 Samuel 10Chapter 10 is Saul's anointing and public selection.
- 1 Samuel 11Chapter 11 is Saul's first military action and the only chapter of his reign where he functions without any reservation or failure.
- 1 Samuel 12Chapter 12 is Samuel's formal farewell as Israel's judge, a speech that occupies the whole chapter.
- 1 Samuel 13Chapter 13 begins the decline.
- 1 Samuel 14Chapter 14 is a chapter of action and its costs.
- 1 Samuel 15Chapter 15 is the final disqualification.
- 1 Samuel 16Chapter 16 is the introduction of David and one of the most carefully constructed scenes of divine election in the Hebrew Bible.
- 1 Samuel 17Chapter 17 is the book's most famous chapter.
- 1 Samuel 18Chapter 18 is where the book's two great relationships crystallize.
- 1 Samuel 19Chapter 19 is the escalation from hostility to overt murderous intent.
- 1 Samuel 20Chapter 20 is the central scene of the David-Jonathan friendship and one of the great parting scenes in ancient literature.
- 1 Samuel 21Chapter 21 is a chapter of disguise and desperation.
- 1 Samuel 22Chapter 22 is one of the darkest chapters in the book.
- 1 Samuel 23Chapter 23 is a chapter of pursuit and one extraordinary meeting.
- 1 Samuel 24Chapter 24 is the first of two episodes in which David has Saul's life in his hands and refuses to take it.
- 1 Samuel 25Chapter 25 opens with Samuel's death — mourned by all Israel — and then turns to a story of David's near loss of self-control and the woman who stops it.
- 1 Samuel 26Chapter 26 is the second episode in which David refuses to kill Saul and, like chapter 24, it is structured to make the refusal as emphatic as possible.
- 1 Samuel 27Chapter 27 is the chapter of David's double game among the Philistines.
- 1 Samuel 28Chapter 28 is one of the strangest and most debated passages in the Hebrew Bible.
- 1 Samuel 29Chapter 29 is the resolution of a problem the narrative has been building toward: David, marching with Achish and the Philistine forces to fight against Israel.
- 1 Samuel 30Chapter 30 is the crisis of David's time among the Philistines.
- 1 Samuel 31Chapter 31 is the last chapter of 1 Samuel and the end of Saul's story.