1 Samuel 22
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 22
NJB (MT versing) The Priests Slain at Nob David's Four Hundred Men David at Adullam; Massacre of the Priests The Slaughter of the Priests 22:1-2 22:1-5 22:1-2 22:1-2 22:1-2 22:3-5 22:3-5 22:3-4 22:3-4 22:5 22:5 Saul Murders the Priests Massacre of the Priests at Nob 22:6-10 22:6-8 22:6-10 22:6-8 22:6-8 22:9-10 22:9-10 22:9-11 22:11-13 22:11-19 22:11-13 22:11-12 22:12-16 22:13 22:14-19 22:14-19 22:14-15 22:16-19 22:17-19 22:20-23 22:20-23 22:20-23 22:20-23 22:20-23 Etc.
1 Samuel 22:1-2
22:1 "the cave of Adullam" This is a city between Bethlehem and Gath. The name comes from a friend of Judah (Gen. 38:1,12,20). This family turned into a small kingdom (cf. Josh. 12:15). In this text the area was the site of a cave stronghold (cf. 1 Sam. 22:4-5; 2 Sam. 23:14; also called "the rock," cf. 1 Chr. 11:15) where David fled for safety and gathered his army ▣ Notice where David's 400 men came from. his brothers (other relatives of Jesse) all his father's household (servants of Jesse) everyone who was in distress (BDB 848) everyone who was in debt (BDB 673) everyone who was in discontent (lit. "bitter of soul," BDB 659)
1 Samuel 22:3-5
22:3-4 Apparently there was a friendly relationship between Moab and David during his lifetime. Probably because of his ancestress, Ruth. 22:3 "until I know what God will do for me" David had to live by faith in YHWH's character plans promises SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS 22:4 NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, Targums, Peshitta "left" "brought" "led" "persuaded" "stay with" There is a question as to which verbal root is meant. left ‒ BDB 628 (נוח) led ‒ BDB 634 (נחה) compassion (LXX, "persuaded") ‒ BDB 636 (נחם) The UBS Text Project, p. 195, gives option #2 a "C" rating (considerable doubt). 22:5 "The prophet Gad" This prophet is active during David's lifetime. David accepts and acts on his divine message to leave Adullam and move to another part of Judah (here). David had to choose between three judgments offered by Gad for his sin of numbering the people (i.e., trusting in his military and not YHWH, cf. 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21). He directed David to organize and station the Levites in a certain way (i.e., also Nathan the prophet, cf. 1 Chr. 29:25). He wrote part of the canonical history of the life of David along with Samuel Nathan Gad See 1 Chr. 29:29-30. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) ▣ "do not stay. . ." There are three directives given to David. One would expect them to be IMPERATIVES, but not so. do not stay ‒ BDB 442, 444, Qal IMPERFECT used in an IMPERATIVAL sense depart ‒ BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERATIVE go ‒ BDB 97, KB 112, Qal PERFECT with waw used in an IMPERATIVAL sense ▣ "the forest of Hereth" This place name (BDB 362) appears only here. Many scholars think it was in the vicinity of of "Keilah" (BDB 890), mentioned in 1 Samuel 23.
1 Samuel 22:6-10
22:6 There are several elements in this verse. Gibeah was the hometown and regular camping site for Saul, 1 Sam. 10:26; 11:4; 13:14-15; 14:2. He held court under "the" large tree (place of blessing and revelation) on the height (lit. "ramah," but "bamah" were usual places of worship, cf. 1 Sam. 9:12) with his spear in his hand (i.e., sign of kingship, cf. 1 Sam. 18:10) ▣ "Gibeah" The Hebrew word (BDB 149 II) means "hill" (cf. 1 Sam. 7:1; 10:10). The name is used of several different places. a city of Judah ‒ Josh. 15:57 a city of Ephraim ‒ Josh. 24:33 a city of Benjamin ‒ Jdgs. 19:14,16; 1 Sam. 10:26; 14:2; 22:6; 26:1; 2 Sam. 22:29 ▣ NASB, NRSV, REB, JPSOA "the tamarisk tree" NKJV, TEV, NJB "a tamarisk tree" "the cultivated field" "the almond tree" The MT has the MASCULINE NOUN (BDB 79), "tamarisk tree, with the DEFINITE ARTICLE. See the UBS Fauna and Flora of the Bible, p. 182, and NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 553. 22:7 Saul uses tribal jealousy and personal interest to rally his fellow Benjamites against David. 22:8 Notice Saul's paranoia. all of you (cf. v. 6) have conspired against me no one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse (i.e., would not ever mention David's name) none of you is sorry for me none of you discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant (i.e., David) to lie in ambush Oh my, Saul is a pathetic, deranged, tormented person! ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV "who is sorry" TEV, JPSOA "concerned about me" NJB, LXX, Peshitta "felt sorry for me" "Spared a thought for me" The VERBAL here (BDB 317 I, KB 316, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) normally means "to be sick" or "to be weak," but here it follows the rare meaning in Amos 6:6 of "indifference" or "apathy." ▣ "to lie in ambush" NKJV, NRSV, REB, Peshitta "to lie in wait" "looking for a chance to kill me" NJB, LXX "to become an enemy in ambush" "in ambush" The MT has the VERBAL (BDB 70, KB 83, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) which means "lie in wait." Apparently David returning to Judah (i.e., "the forest of Hereth") was interpreted by Saul as an ambush (v. 11). lie in wait ‒ ארב enemy (LXX) ‒ איב 22:9-10 This is Doeg's report in light of Saul's charge in v. 8 (see traditional introduction to Psalm 52). the son of Jesse came to Nob to visit the priest the priest inquired of the Lord for him (i.e., used the ephod, Urim and Thummim) gave him provisions gave him Goliath's sword SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM 22:9 NASB, REB, JPSOA "standing by the servants" "who was set over the servants" "who was in charge of Saul's servants" "with Saul's officers" "who was in command of Saul's staff" "who was in charge of Saul's mules" "who was set over the servants" The position of Doeg among Saul's courtiers goes back to 1 Sam. 21:7. See full note there. Josephus, Antiq. 6.12.40, follows the LXX, "Doeg, the Syrian, who fed his mules."
1 Samuel 22:11-13
22:11-15 Saul summons the priests serving at Nob to his court to accuse them of aiding David's rebellion. Notice how Ahimelech answers Saul. Who is more faithful to you than David? He is your son-in-law. He is captain of your guard. He is honored in your house. I have inquired for him just this once (v. 15, RSV, NEB; Josephus, Antiq. 6.12.5 says "Nor is this the first time that I prophesied for him, but I have done it often, at other times, as well as now"; TEV) I know nothing of David's rebellion (v. 15).
1 Samuel 22:14-19
22:16 "You shall surely die" This is an intensified grammatical form (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root, BDB 559, KB 562, Qal). This could be a fulfilment of YHWH's message to Eli about his descendants (cf. 1 Sam. 2:27-36; Josephus, Antiq. 6.12.6). Saul, for inappropriate reasons, is used to bring the prophecy to pass. The final act of rejection was done by Solomon in 1 Kgs. 2:22-27. 22:17 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, JPSOA, Peshitta "guards" "scouts" "bodyguard" LXX, NASB margin "runners" The MT has the PARTICIPLE (BDB 930, KB 1207, Qal ACTIVE) from the VERB "to run." They may have been those chosen to take messages or those chosen to serve. See full note at 1 Sam. 21:7; about Doeg. ▣ Saul gives two commands to those surrounding him at court. turn about ‒ lit. "surround," BDB 685, KB 738, Qal IMPERATIVE put to death ‒ BDB 559, KB 562, Hiphil IMPERATIVE These servants were not willing to "attack" the priests. The VERB (BDB 803, KB 910, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) literally means "encounter" with hostility (cf. Josh. 2:16; Jdgs. 8:21; 15:12; 18:25; 1 Sam. 22:15,18). They had respect (awe, fear) for YHWH's consecrated priests, but not Doeg (vv. 18-19). 22:18 "eighty-five men" Josephus, Antiq. 6.12.6, says he and his wicked men killed 385 men. The LXX gives the number as 305 men. Some LXX MSS and Old Latin MSS have 350. The MT has 85. ▣ "the linen ephod" This was the special dress of Levitical priests. SPECIAL TOPIC: LINEN SPECIAL TOPIC: EPHOD SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS 22:19 This total destruction is an aspect of holy war (i.e., if it breathes, it dies). One wonders if Saul thought rebellion against him was an act against YHWH. Many terrible things are done in the name of God.
1 Samuel 22:20-23
22:20-23 Only one priest survived, Abiathar, who was left to guard the tabernacle. He is the last descendant of Eli. He will serve along with Zadok as High Priests during David's reign.