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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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:7

Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him ,.... He took this opportunity of addressing them in the following manner, upon the report of David being at the head of a certain number of men: hear now, ye Benjamites ; for Saul being of the tribe of Benjamin, his courtiers and his bodyguards chiefly, if not altogether, consisted of persons of that tribe; and therefore as they were under obligation to him, and ought to abide by him, and adhere closely to him, so it was the more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:8

That all of you have conspired against me ,.... For though they had not revolted from him, and been guilty of overt acts of treason, yet since they did not discover to him what he supposed they knew, and showed no concern for the circumstances in which he was, he interpreted this a conspiracy against him: and there is none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse ; Saul did not know this certainly, he only suspected it from the strict and close friendship... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:9

Then answered Doeg the Edomite ,.... Josephus F4 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 12. sect. 1, 4. calls him a Syrian, and so the Septuagint version; see 1 Samuel 21:7 ; being full of enmity to David, and willing to curry favour with Saul, and eager of further preferment, which Saul seemed to promise; and being more forward than the rest of his servants, prevented them and spoke first: (which was set over the servants of Saul) : over his herdsmen; see 1 Samuel 21:7 , and said, I saw the son... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:10

And he inquired of the Lord for him ,.... Which not being expressed before, some have taken it to be a lie of Doeg's, he being charged with lying by David, Psalm 52:3 ; but it is not at all improbable that David should desire him to inquire of the Lord for him, and that he did; and he seems to acknowledge it, 1 Samuel 22:15 ; but according to the Jewish writers Doeg meant by this to prove a charge of treason both against David and Ahimelech; that the former made himself king, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:11

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub ,.... Sent messengers to him, and summoned him to appear before him: and all his father's house ; the family of Eli, which God had threatened to destroy, and now the time was hastening on: the priests that were in Nob ; in which dwelt none but priests, at least these were the chief of the inhabitants, and therefore called the city of the priests, 1 Samuel 22:19 , and they came all of them to the king ; not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:12

And Saul said, hear now, thou son of Ahitub ,.... The charge exhibited against him; in contempt of him, he does not so much as call him by his name, nor give him the title of his office, as high priest; though he was the second person in the kingdom, and to whose office a few years ago the civil government was annexed: and he answered, here I am , my lord ; giving due honour to Saul, though he received none from him, and appearing with great boldness, as having a clear conscience, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:13

And Saul said unto him, why have ye conspired against me , thou, and the son of Jesse ?.... No less than treason and rebellion is he charged with, in conjunction with David; the proof follows: in that thou hast given him bread and a sword ; the shewbread, and the sword of Goliath, 1 Samuel 21:6 , and so had furnished him with food and arms; one that he suggests was in rebellion against him, and therefore he must be involved in the same crime; but the stronger proof follows and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:14

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said ,.... First with respect to David, and then with regard to himself; with respect to David as follows: and who is so faithful amongst thy servants as David ; I considered him, as if he should say, as a servant of thine, upon an errand of thine, and doing thy business; and as a faithful one, none more so, and as such I valued and regarded him, not as a rebel to thee, having no such thought of him: which is the king's son in law ; who has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:15

Did I then begin to inquire of God for him ?.... Was this the first time of inquiring of God for him? no; I have done this many a time, when he has been going upon the king's business, engaging in war with his enemies; he has then consulted the Lord by me, and I have inquired of the Lord for him, as I now did; and which I did as innocently, and as much for the king's service, as ever I did any. Kimchi observes it may be read without the interrogation, "that day I began to inquire of God for... read more

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