And Nob - smote he with the edge of the sword - This is one of the worst acts in the life of Saul; his malice was implacable, and his wrath was cruel, and there is no motive of justice or policy by which such a barbarous act can be justified. read more
Abiathar , escaped - This man carried with him his sacerdotal garments, as we find from 1 Samuel 23:6 , 1 Samuel 23:9 . read more
I knew it that day - When I saw Doeg there, I suspected he would make the matter known to Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons - I have been the innocent cause of their destruction. read more
He that seeketh my life seeketh thy life - The enmity of Saul is directed against thee as well as against me, and thou canst have no safety but in being closely attached to me; and I will defend thee even at the risk of my own life. This he was bound in duty and conscience to do. 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
Abiathar escaped. Probably he was left in charge of the sanctuary when Ahimelech and the rest were summoned into the king's presence, and on news being brought of Saul's violence, at once made his escape, Naturally, as representing a family who, though originally Saul's friends, had suffered so much for David, he was kindly received, and a friendship commenced which lasted all David's life; but, taking at last Adonijah's side, he was deprived by Solomon of the high priesthood, and sent into... read more
We are not to suppose that Doeg killed them all with his own hand. He had a band of men under his command, many or all of whom were perhaps foreigners like himself, and very likely of a Bedouin caste, to whom bloodshed would be quite natural, and the priests of the Lord of no more account than so Early sheep or oxen. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:18
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