David Gathers Followers I Samuel 22

I Samuel 22:1 "David therefore departed thence and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him."
Adullam: resting place

There are really two stories in this chapter. The one is David gathering men to him at the cave and that of Doeg the Edomite who is Saul's henchman. First we will look at David.

David, whether he is aware or not, is preparing for war. There are many in Israel who are affected by all the chaos. They have heard of David and now go to join him.

v2 "And every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him, and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men."

Then David thought of his parents and made arrangements with the king of Moab for them to stay there until he knew what would happen to him.

v4 "And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold."

David listened to the men of God. A prophet named Gad told David to return to Judah which David did. Saul, hearing of David's return, is angry with all around him for not telling him the movements of David. Then we go into the story of a man Doeg. He is a crafty fellow and plays Saul to his benefit.

Doeg was there when David received the sword of Doeg but did not tell Saul. Now he points the finger at the priest Ahimelech, who helped David.

v9 "Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

There is a lie in this testimony. The priest did not enquire of the LORD as he states in verse 15. But this lie mixed with the truth of what happened was enough to turn Saul on the priest. He ordered the people to kill the priests but they would not. So, the man Doeg of Edom volunteered his services and killed 65 that day who wore a linen ephod.

v18 "And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod."

That was not enough for them, so they went to Nob and went on a killing spree there to, killing everything in sight. v19. One of the men escaped, named Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, and ran to tell David. David remembered the man Doeg being there and told of his suspicions. he gave protection to the man and took blame for the deaths.

v22 "And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house."

We have learned about David in this chapter. He cared for his parents. He listened to the man of God. He took blame for his mistakes. He did not turn the downcast away.

Psalm 107:6 "Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses."

keywords: Bible Study, Old Testament, Israel, David, Saul,Milton Southerland, Old Old story blog.