| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father's family heard about this and went down to him there. | 1So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father's family learned about it, they went down there to him. |
| 2Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him. | 2All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. He had about four hundred men with him. |
| 3David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me." | 3Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me." |
| 4David left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold. | 4So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time that David was in the stronghold. |
| 5The prophet Gad told David, "Don't remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the territory of Judah." So David left and went into the forest of Hereth. | 5Then Gad the prophet said to David, "Don't stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth. |
| 6When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been found, he was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the hill, with his spear in his hand. All his officials were standing around him. | 6But Saul found out the whereabouts of David and the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at an elevated location with his spear in hand and all his servants stationed around him. |
| 7Saul told his officials who were standing around him, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will Jesse's son also give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you officers over thousands and officers over hundreds? | 7Saul said to his servants who were stationed around him, "Listen up, you Benjaminites! Is Jesse's son giving fields and vineyards to all of you? Or is he making all of you commanders and officers? |
| 8But all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me about my son's covenant with Jesse's son. None of you feels sorry for me and tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he's doing this day." | 8For all of you have conspired against me! No one informs me when my own son makes an agreement with this son of Jesse! Not one of you feels sorry for me or informs me that my own son has commissioned my own servant to hide in ambush against me, as is the case today!" |
| 9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul's servants answered: "I saw Jesse's son coming to Nob to Ahitub's son Ahimelech. | 9But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with the servants of Saul, replied, "I saw this son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. |
| 10Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine." | 10He inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine." |
| 11The king sent for Ahitub's son Ahimelech the priest and for all his father's family who were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king. | 11Then the king arranged for a meeting with the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priests of his father's house who were at Nob. They all came to the king. |
| 12Saul said, "Listen, son of Ahitub!" And he said, "Here I am, your majesty." | 12Then Saul said, "Listen, son of Ahitub." He replied, "Here I am, my lord." |
| 13Then Saul 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 today?" | 13Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!" |
| 14Ahimelech answered the king, "Who among all your officials 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. | 14Ahimelech replied to the king, "Who among all your servants is faithful like David? He is the king's son-in-law, the leader of your bodyguard, and honored in your house! |
| 15Is 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 about this." | 15Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse his servant or any of my father's house. For your servant is not aware of all this--not in whole or in part!" |
| 16The king said, "Ahimelech, you will surely die, you and all your father's family!" | 16But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house! |
| 17The king told the guards, who were standing beside him, "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD because they supported David, and because they knew he was fleeing, but didn't inform me." But the officials of the king did not want to lift their hands to attack the priests of the LORD. | 17Then the king said to the messengers who were stationed beside him, "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, for they too have sided with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me." But the king's servants refused to harm the priests of the LORD. |
| 18Then 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. | 18Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. |
| 19He attacked the priestly town of Nob with the sword. Men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys and sheep were put to the sword. | 19As for Nob, the city of the priests, he struck down with the sword men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep--all with the sword. |
| 20One man, Ahimelech's son Abiathar, a grandson of Ahitub, escaped and fled to David. | 20But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar. |
| 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. | 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. |
| 22David told Abiathar, "I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I'm responsible for the deaths of your father's whole family. | 22Then David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I am guilty of all the deaths in your father's house! |
| 23Stay with me, and don't be afraid because the one who seeks my life, seeks your life. Indeed, you will be safe with me." | 23Stay with me. Don't be afraid! Whoever seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me." |
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