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1 Samuel 22:13-20
International Standard Version
1 Samuel 22:13-20
International Standard Version
13 Then Saul[a] asked him, “Why have you conspired against me—you and Jesse’s son—by giving him food and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so he can rise up against me to lie in wait, as he’s doing[b] today?”
14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your officials[c] is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard, and he’s honored in your household. 15 Is today the first time I inquired of God for him? Absolutely not! The king shouldn’t accuse his servant, or any of my father’s family of anything, because your servant didn’t know anything at all[d] about this.”
16 The king said, “Ahimelech, you will surely die, you and all your father’s family!” 17 The king told the guards, who were standing beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they supported David,[e] and because they knew he was fleeing, but didn’t inform me.”[f] But the officials of the king did not want to lift their hands[g] to attack the priests of the Lord.
18 Then the king told Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who carry the linen ephod.[h] 19 He attacked the priestly town of Nob with the sword. Men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys and sheep were put to the sword.
Abiathar Takes the Ephod to David
20 One man, Ahimelech’s son Abiathar, a grandson of Ahitub, escaped and fled to David.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 22:13 Lit. he
- 1 Samuel 22:13 The Heb. lacks he is doing
- 1 Samuel 22:14 Or servants
- 1 Samuel 22:15 Lit. anything, great or small
- 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit. their hand was with David
- 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit. reveal in my ear
- 1 Samuel 22:17 Lit. to send their hand
- 1 Samuel 22:18 I.e. the priests
1 Samuel 22:13-20
New International Version
1 Samuel 22:13-20
New International Version
13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired(A) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”
14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who(B) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”
16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.(C)”
17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”
But the king’s officials were unwilling(D) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”(E) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.(F) 19 He also put to the sword(G) Nob,(H) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,(I) named Abiathar,(J) escaped and fled to join David.(K)
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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