Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:17
But the servants of the king would not - They dared to disobey the commands of the king in a case of such injustice, inhumanity, and irreligion. read more
But the servants of the king would not - They dared to disobey the commands of the king in a case of such injustice, inhumanity, and irreligion. read more
And Doeg - fell upon the priests - A ruthless Edomite, capable of any species of iniquity. Fourscore and five persons - The Septuagint read τριακοσιους και πεντε ανδρας , three hundred and five men; and Josephus has three hundred and eighty-five men. Probably the eighty-five were priests; the three hundred, the families of the priests; three hundred and eighty-five being the whole population of Nob. That did wear a linen ephod - That is, persons who did... read more
Resistance to God's purposes. The facts are— 1 . Saul, hearing at Gibeah of David's movements, makes an appeal to his Benjamite attendants. 2 . He insinuates the existence of secret designs against himself, connivance at David's supposed purpose, and lack of pity for his condition. 3 . Thereupon Doeg the Edomite relates what he saw at Nob, and makes the statement that the high priest inquired of the Lord for David. 4 . Saul sends for Ahimelech and charges him with... read more
All his father's house. Doeg's suggestion that the priests were David's allies at once arouses all Saul's worst passions. As if he had determined from the first upon the massacre of the whole body, he sends not merely for Ahimelech, but forevery priest at Nob. Shortly afterwards they arrived, for Nob was close to Gibeah, and Saul himself arraigns them before the court for treason, and recapitulates the three points mentioned by Doeg as conclusive proofs of their guilt. read more
Ahimelech's answers are those of an innocent man who had supposed that what he did was a matter of course. But his enumeration of David's privileges of rank and station probably only embittered the king. In his eyes David was of all Saul s officers the most faithful , both trusty and trusted (see on 1 Samuel 2:35 ). He was, moreover, the king's son-in-law ; but the next words, he goeth at thy bidding , more probably mean, "has admission to thy audience," i.e. is thy privy councillor,... read more
Footmen . Hebrew, "runners." They were the men who ran by the side of the king's horse or chariot as his escort (see on 1 Samuel 8:11 ). In constant training, they were capable of maintaining a great speed for a very long time. Here they were present at the king's council as his bodyguard, but when commanded to commit this horrid deed not one of them stirred from his place. Saul might have seen by this that he was alienating the hearts of all right minded men from him; but, unabashed, he... read more
The tragedy at Nob. The facts are— 1 . Saul commands his guards to slay the priests of Nob, but they refuse. 2 . Thereupon he commands Doeg to effect their death, who slays eighty-five priests, and procures the destruction of the entire city. 3 . Abiathar, escaping to David, makes known to him what has happened. 4 . David perceives that his presence at Nob was the occasion of this sad calamity, and admits that he feared the course Doeg would take. 5 . He encourages... read more
Massacre and safeguard. The tragic interest of this passage groups itself about four men: I. SAUL AND HIS MAD TYRANNY . How much allowance may be made for actual insanity in the king God only knows. But it must not be forgotten that the disorder of his mind was largely due to his own indulgence of fierce and arrogant passions, and his wilful refusal to obey the commands of the Lord and the guidance of his prophet. He had now become quite furious in his jealousy of David and... read more
Goeth at thy bidding - Better, “has access to thy (private) audience,” or council (compare 2 Samuel 23:23, margin). read more
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:15
Did I then begin to inquire of God - He probably means that his inquiring now for David was no new thing, having often done so before, and without ever being informed it was either wrong in itself, or displeasing to the king. Nor is it likely that Ahimelech knew of any disagreement between Saul and David. He knew him to be the king's son-in-law, and he treated him as such. read more