1 S o David left there and ran to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all those of his father’s house heard about it, they went down there to him.

So David departed and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.

2 T hen everyone who was in trouble, everyone who owed money, and everyone who was not happy with the way he was living, came together to him. He became their captain. There were about 400 men with him.

And everyone in distress or in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became a commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men.

3 D avid went from there to Mizpah of Moab. He said to the king of Moab, “I beg of you, let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.”

And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray you, come out and be with you till I know what God will do for me.

4 T hen he left them with the king of Moab. They stayed with him all the time that David was in his safe place.

And he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.

5 T he man who told what will happen in the future, Gad, said to David, “Do not stay in this strong place. Leave, and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went among the trees of Hereth.

Then the prophet Gad said to David, Do not remain in the stronghold; leave, and get into the land of Judah. So David left and went into the forest of Hareth.

6 N ow Saul heard that David and the men with him had been found. Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the high place with his spear in his hand. All his servants were standing around him.

Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him. Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height, his spear in his hand and all his servants standing about him.

7 S aul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and grape fields? Will he make you all leaders of thousands and hundreds?

Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards and make you all commanders of thousands and hundreds,

8 F or all of you have made plans against me. No one lets me know when my son makes an agreement with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or lets me know that my son has caused my servant to be against me and hide and wait, as it is this day.”

That all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he does this day?

9 D oeg the Edomite, who was standing by Saul’s servants, said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood with Saul’s servants, said, I saw the son of Jesse come to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.

10 A himelech asked the Lord what David should do. He gave David food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

And inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

11 T hen the king sent someone to call Ahimelech the religious leader, son of Ahitub, and all those of his father’s family, the religious leaders who were in Nob. And all of them came to the king.

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob, and they all came to the king.

12 S aul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”

Saul said, Hear now, you son of Ahitub. He replied, Here I am, my lord.

13 S aul said to him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse planned against me? Why have you given him bread and a sword, and have asked the Lord what he should do, so he could rise against me and wait in hiding, as it is this day?”

Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so he could rise against me to lie in wait, as he does this day?

14 A himelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law. He is captain of the soldiers who keep you safe, and is honored in your house.

Then Ahimelech answered the king, And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and is taken into your council and honored in your house?

15 I s today the first time that I have asked things of God for him? No! Do not let the king do anything wrong to his servant or any of those of my father’s family. For your servant knows nothing at all about this.”

Have I only today begun inquiring of God for him? No! Let not the king impute any wrong to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, little or much.

16 B ut the king said, “You will die for sure, Ahimelech, you and all those of your father’s family!”

said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.

17 T he king said to the soldiers who stood around him, “Turn and put the religious leaders of the Lord to death. Because they are on David’s side. They knew he was running away, and did not tell me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to go against the religious leaders of the Lord.

And the king said to the guard that stood about him, Turn and slay the Lord’s priests, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hands against the Lord’s priests.

18 T hen the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the religious leaders.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and killed the religious leaders. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen vest.

The king said to Doeg, You turn and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests and slew that day eighty-five persons who wore the priest’s linen ephod.

19 T hen he destroyed Nob, the city of the religious leaders, with the sword. He killed men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys and sheep, with the sword.

And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the sword; both men and women, children and sucklings, oxen and donkeys and sheep, he put to the sword.

20 B ut Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, got away and ran after David.

And one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub named Abiathar escaped and fled after David.

21 A biathar told David that Saul had killed the religious leaders of the Lord.

And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the Lord’s priests.

22 D avid said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would be sure to tell Saul. I am to blame for the death of every person in your father’s family.

David said to Abiathar, I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all your father’s house.

23 S tay with me. Do not be afraid. For he who wants to kill me wants to kill you. But you are safe with me.”

Stay with me, fear not; for he who seeks my life seeks your life. But with me you shall be safeguarded.