1 Samuel 22:18, 1 Samuel 22:20 NVI

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 22:18-19

1 Samuel 22:18-19. Doeg—slew on that day fourscore and five persons— Josephus says, that Doeg, taking to his assistance some men as wicked as himself, slew, in all, three hundred and eighty-five persons. The LXX says three hundred and five. A robe of linen was the common dress of the priests, and it is what the historian means by a linen ephod; very different from that of the high-priest. See chap. 1 Samuel 2:18. But why should all the priests have been involved in this barbarous massacre? Doeg... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 22:6-23

Saul’s slaughter of the priests 22:6-23The writer’s attention focused next on Saul’s activities. He used the literary device of focusing on David, then on Saul, then on David, etc. He used the same technique in chapters 1-3 with Samuel and Eli’s sons to contrast Samuel’s goodness with the wickedness of Hophni and Phinehas. The same purpose is in view in chapters 21-31 with David and Saul.Saul was aware that some in his army, apparently even some of his tribal kinsmen from Benjamin, had deserted... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:1-23

David in the Cave of Adullam. Saul’s Slaughter of the Priests at Nob1. Adullam] probably in the valley of Elah between Philistia and Hebron. 2. Four hundred] They soon increased to six hundred (1 Samuel 23:13). Cp. the description given of Jephthah’s band in Judges 11:3.5. Gad] is here mentioned for the first time. After David’s accession he became the king’s seer (2 Samuel 24:11). He was sent to rebuke David for his sin in numbering the people, and after his death wrote a history of his reign... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 22:18

(18) And Doeg the Edomite . . . fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons.—No doubt, assisted by his own attached servants, Doeg carried out this deed of unexampled barbarity. For this act the Edomite servant of Saul has been execrated in the most ancient Jewish writings perhaps above any other of the famous wicked men who meet us in the Holy Scriptures. For instance, we read in the Babylonian Talmud how “Doeg the Edomite, after his massacre of the priests, was... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:1-23

CHAPTER XXIX.DAVID AT ADULLAM, MIZPEH, AND HARETH.1 Samuel 22:1-23.THE cave of Adullam, to which David fled on leaving Gath, has been placed in various localities even in modern times; but as the Palestine Exploration authorities have placed the town in the valley of Elah, we may regard it as settled that the cave lay there, not far indeed from the place where David had had his encounter with Goliath. It was a humble dwelling for a king’s son-in-law, nor could David have thought of needing it... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 22:1-23

CHAPTER 22 1. In the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2 ) 2. In Moab and Gad’s message (1 Samuel 22:3-5 ) 3. Saul’s discovery of David’s visit to Nob (1 Samuel 22:6-10 ) 4. The murder of the priests (1 Samuel 22:11-19 ) 5. David and Abiathar (1 Samuel 22:20-23 ) Next we find him in the cave of Adullam (a witness). Here a strange company gathers around the rejected king. It consisted of 400 men. He became their captain. Some of them were in distress, others in debt, and discontented.... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:1-23

David wrotePsalms 34:1-22; Psalms 34:1-22 at this time, which shows that he was truly restored to the Lord. Verse 4 of that Psalm is particularly significant, "I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." His painful experience was evidently profitable for him in that it drove him to the Lord. It seems therefore that the Lord guided him to escape to the cave Adullam. He did not have to remain lonely there for long. His reputation before the people could not but... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:1-23

DAVID IN EXILE DECEIVING THE PRIEST (1 Samuel 21:0 ) Nob was northeast of Jerusalem and about five miles from Gibeah. David’s unexpected presence there, and alone, caused alarm (1 Samuel 21:1 ). His falsehood was unnecessary and wrong (1 Samuel 21:2 ), and is not commended of God (Psalms 119:29 ). “Hallowed bread” (1 Samuel 21:4 ) was the shew-bread in the tabernacle, which we studied in Exodus and Leviticus. It was removed the day before the Sabbath when it became lawful for the priests... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Samuel 22:1-23

1 Samuel 22:0 1. David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam [in the great valley of Elah which forms the highway from Philistia to Hebron]: and when his brethren and all his fathers house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2. And every one that was in distress [persecuted by Saul and his house], and every one that was in debt [notwithstanding such passages as Exodus 22:25 ; Leviticus 25:36 ; Deu 23:19 ], and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:16-19

(16) And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. (17) And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. (18) And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he... read more