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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:6-19

We have seen the progress of David's troubles; now here we have the progress of Saul's wickedness. He seems to have laid aside the thoughts of all other business and to have devoted himself wholly to the pursuit of David. He heard at length, by the common fame of the country, that David was discovered (that is, that he appeared publicly and enlisted men into his service); and hereupon he called all his servants about him, and sat down under a tree, or grove, in the high place at Gibeah, with... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:20-23

Here is, 1. The escape of Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, out of the desolations of the priests? city. Probably when his father went to appear, upon Saul's summons, he was left at home to attend the altar, by which means he escaped the first execution, and, before Doeg and his bloodhounds came to Nob, he had intelligence of the danger, and had time to shift for his own safety. And whither should he go but to David? 1 Sam. 22:20. Let those that suffer for the Son of David commit the keeping of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:17

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him ,.... Or the "runners" F6 לרצים "cursoribus", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; the running footmen, that used to run before him when he went out from place to place, and were here waiting on him, ready to set out whenever he should give the orders to go elsewhere. The tradition of the Jews is, that these were Abner and Amasa F7 Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel. in loc. ; but, as Kimchi observes, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:18

And the king said to Doeg, turn thou and fall upon the priests ,.... For determined he was they should die; if one would not put them to death, another should, and who so fit for this bloody work as the false accuser of them, and false witness against them? and Doeg the Edomite turned ; immediately, he at once obeyed the king's orders, as brutish as they were: and fell upon the priests ; with his sword in hand: and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:19

And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword ,.... Either Doeg or Saul; who, as Josephus F9 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 12. sect. 6. says, sent men thither to slay all the inhabitants of it: both men and women, children and sucklings ; not sparing sex nor age: and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword ; Saul, who was so tender hearted and merciful in the case of the Amalekites, when his orders from the Lord were utterly to destroy them, 1 Samuel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:20

And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped ,.... Who very probably was left by his father to take care of the sanctuary, and the holy things in it, when he and the rest of the priests were summoned to appear before Saul; who having heard of his bloody execution of them, before his messengers could get to Nob, took, the ephod, with the Urim and Thummim, and made his escape, as appears from 1 Samuel 23:6 ; this man succeeded his father in the high... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:21

And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests. Of which perhaps he had not as yet heard; though tidings of such a nature generally fly swiftly; and a sorrowful shocking account he had to give, and which was so to David. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:22

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day ,.... That is, he thought in his mind at that time: when Doeg the Edomite was there ; at Nob; in the tabernacle, at the same time that David was there: that he would surely tell Saul ; that he saw David there, and what passed between him and Ahimelech; he knew he was a spiteful mischievous man; that he was a true Edomite, though a proselyte, and bore hatred and enmity in his mind against an Israelite, and especially an Israelite... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:23

Abide thou with me, fear not ,.... He appeared to be in a fright; which is not to be wondered at, as not knowing what to do, and where to go and provide for his safety; when, to allay his fears, and make him easy, David invites and encourages him to stay with him, and not be afraid of Saul, nor any other: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life ; or, as Kimchi observes, it may be interpreted, "my life he seeks who seeks thy life"; we are in the same circumstances, and have the same... read more

Adam Clarke

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

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