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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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:9

Doeg the Edomite , which was set over the servants of Saul - In 1 Samuel 21:7 ; he is said to be the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul, and the Septuagint intimate that he was over the mules of Saul. Probably he was what we call the king's equery or groom. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:10

And he inquired of the Lord for him - This circumstance is not related in history; but it is probably true, as David would most naturally wish to know where to direct his steps in this very important crisis. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:14

And who is so faithful - The word נאמן neeman , which we here translate faithful, is probably the name of an officer. See the note on Numbers 12:7 . read more

Adam Clarke

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

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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