| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they 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. |
| 2All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were 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. |
| 3From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will 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." |
| 4So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as 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. |
| 5But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to 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. |
| 6Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated, spear in hand, under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. | 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. |
| 7He said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of 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? |
| 8Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today." | 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!" |
| 9But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub at Nob. | 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. |
| 10Ahimelek inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and 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." |
| 11Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all 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 now, son of Ahitub." "Yes, my lord," he answered. | 12Then Saul said, "Listen, son of Ahitub." He replied, "Here I am, my lord." |
| 13Saul 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 that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does 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!" |
| 14Ahimelek answered the king, "Who 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? | 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! |
| 15Was 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." | 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!" |
| 16But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family." | 16But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house! |
| 17Then 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 to raise a hand to strike 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. |
| 18The king then ordered Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore 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 also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep. | 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. |
| 20But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. | 20But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar. |
| 21He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. | 21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. |
| 22Then David said to Abiathar, "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your 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; don't be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. 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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