| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 1So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. |
| 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. | 2Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. |
| 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." | 3Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” |
| 4So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time that David was in the stronghold. | 4So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold. |
| 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. | 5One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth. |
| 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. | 6The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers. |
| 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? | 7“Listen here, you men of Benjamin!” Saul shouted to his officers when he heard the news. “Has that son of Jesse promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army? |
| 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!" | 8Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You’re not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!” |
| 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. | 9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul’s men, spoke up. “When I was at Nob,” he said, “I saw the son of Jesse talking to the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub. |
| 10He inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine." | 10Ahimelech consulted the LORD for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” The Slaughter of the Priests |
| 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. | 11King Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech and all his family, who served as priests at Nob. |
| 12Then Saul said, "Listen, son of Ahitub." He replied, "Here I am, my lord." | 12When they arrived, Saul shouted at him, “Listen to me, you son of Ahitub!” “What is it, my king?” Ahimelech asked. |
| 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!" | 13“Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?” Saul demanded. “Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted God for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?” |
| 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! | 14“But sir,” Ahimelech replied, “is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household! |
| 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!" | 15This was certainly not the first time I had consulted God for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you.” |
| 16But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house! | 16“You will surely die, Ahimelech, along with your entire family!” the king shouted. |
| 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. | 17And he ordered his bodyguards, “Kill these priests of the LORD, for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn’t tell me!” But Saul’s men refused to kill the LORD’s priests. |
| 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. | 18Then the king said to Doeg, “You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments. |
| 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. | 19Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. |
| 20But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar. | 20Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David. |
| 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. | 21When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD, |
| 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! | 22David exclaimed, “I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family. |
| 23Stay with me. Don't be afraid! Whoever seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me." | 23Stay here with me, and don’t be afraid. I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both.” |
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