◄ 1 Samuel 22:13 ►
And Saul asked him, "Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today."
Study Bible
And Saul asked him,
Saul, the first king of Israel, is speaking here. His reign began with promise but was marred by disobedience to God, leading to his eventual rejection as king. This question is directed at Ahimelech the priest, reflecting Saul's growing paranoia and instability. Saul's inquiry is accusatory, indicating his suspicion and fear of losing power.

“Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?
The "son of Jesse" refers to David, who was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel. Saul's use of "son of Jesse" instead of David's name may indicate disdain or an attempt to depersonalize David. The accusation of conspiracy highlights Saul's belief that David is actively seeking to overthrow him, despite David's loyalty. This reflects Saul's increasing paranoia and the tension between Saul and David, which is a central theme in 1 Samuel.

You gave him bread and a sword
Ahimelech provided David with the showbread and the sword of Goliath when David fled from Saul. This act of kindness was interpreted by Saul as an act of treason. The bread symbolizes sustenance and the sword represents protection, both of which were seen as enabling David to continue evading Saul. This incident is recorded in 1 Samuel 21, where David deceives Ahimelech by not revealing his true situation.

and inquired of God for him
Ahimelech's inquiry of God for David suggests seeking divine guidance or blessing, which was a common practice for priests. Saul interprets this as a religious endorsement of David's actions. This reflects the role of priests as intermediaries between God and the people, and Saul's perception that Ahimelech's actions were supportive of David's supposed rebellion.

so that he could rise up against me
Saul's fear is that David is gathering strength and support to challenge his kingship. This phrase indicates Saul's belief that David's actions are part of a larger plot to usurp the throne. Historically, this reflects the political instability and the threat Saul felt from David's growing popularity and success.

to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”
Saul accuses David of actively plotting against him, portraying David as a threat to his reign. This accusation is unfounded, as David consistently shows restraint and respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed. The phrase "as he is doing today" suggests Saul's immediate concern and the urgency he feels in addressing what he perceives as a direct threat. This reflects the ongoing conflict and tension between Saul and David, which is a significant narrative in the books of Samuel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Saul
The first king of Israel, who is increasingly paranoid and sees David as a threat to his throne.

2. David (Son of Jesse)
Anointed by God to be the next king of Israel, currently fleeing from Saul's attempts to kill him.

3. Ahimelech
The priest who unknowingly aids David by giving him bread and a sword, and inquiring of God for him.

4. Nob
The city of priests where Ahimelech resides and where David receives help.

5. Conspiracy
Saul accuses Ahimelech and David of conspiring against him, reflecting his growing paranoia and detachment from God's will.
Teaching Points
The Dangers of Paranoia and Fear
Saul's fear leads him to see enemies where there are none, causing harm to innocent people. We must guard against letting fear cloud our judgment and lead us away from God's truth.

The Role of God's Anointed
David, though anointed, waits for God's timing to ascend to the throne. This teaches us patience and trust in God's plan, even when circumstances are difficult.

The Importance of Discernment
Ahimelech's actions were innocent, yet they were misinterpreted by Saul. We must seek God's wisdom to discern truth from falsehood in our interactions with others.

God's Sovereignty in Trials
Despite Saul's actions, God's plan for David remains intact. This reminds us that God's purposes will prevail, even when we face opposition.

Mercy Over Sacrifice
Jesus' reference to this event highlights the importance of mercy and understanding God's heart, rather than rigid adherence to rules.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Saul's accusation against Ahimelech reflect his spiritual state and relationship with God?

2. In what ways can fear and paranoia affect our relationships and decision-making today?

3. How does David's response to being pursued by Saul demonstrate trust in God's timing and sovereignty?

4. What can we learn from Ahimelech's actions about the importance of helping others, even when it might be risky?

5. How does Jesus' reference to this event in Matthew 12 challenge us to prioritize mercy and understanding in our own lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 15
Saul's disobedience to God, which leads to his rejection as king, setting the stage for his paranoia and fear of David.

Psalm 52
Written by David concerning Doeg the Edomite, who reports to Saul about Ahimelech's assistance to David, leading to the massacre of the priests.

Matthew 12:1-8
Jesus references David's actions at Nob to illustrate the principle of mercy over sacrifice, showing the importance of understanding God's heart.
Sermons
A Friend and a FoeR. E. Faulkner.1 Samuel 22:5-23
The Tyranny of SaulB. Dale 1 Samuel 22:6-19
People
Abiathar, Ahimelech, Ahitub, Benjamin, Benjaminites, Benjamites, David, Doeg, Gad, Goliath, Jesse, Saul
Places
Adullam, Gibeah, Hereth, Mizpeh, Moab, Nob
Topics
Ambush, Arms, Attack, Bread, Conspired, Designs, Directions, Getting, Giving, Hast, Helping, Inquired, Inquiring, Jesse, Lie, Lier-in-wait, Lies, Lying, Rebelled, Rise, Risen, Saul, Secret, Sword, Wait, Watch
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Samuel 22:13-15

     6115   blame
     8648   enquiring of God
     8800   prejudice

1 Samuel 22:13-16

     5817   conspiracies

Library
Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Exile Continued.
"So David fled, and escaped and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done unto him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth" (1 Sam. xix. 18)--or, as the word probably means, in the collection of students' dwellings, inhabited by the sons of the prophets, where possibly there may have been some kind of right of sanctuary. Driven thence by Saul's following him, and having had one last sorrowful hour of Jonathan's companionship--the last but one on earth--he fled to Nob, whither …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

The Exile --Continued.
We have one psalm which the title connects with the beginning of David's stay at Adullam,--the thirty-fourth. The supposition that it dates from that period throws great force into many parts of it, and gives a unity to what is else apparently fragmentary and disconnected. Unlike those already considered, which were pure soliloquies, this is full of exhortation and counsel, as would naturally be the case if it were written when friends and followers began to gather to his standard. It reads like …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David

Ramah. Ramathaim Zophim. Gibeah.
There was a certain Ramah, in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and that within sight of Jerusalem, as it seems, Judges 19:13; where it is named with Gibeah:--and elsewhere, Hosea 5:8; which towns were not much distant. See 1 Samuel 22:6; "Saul sat in Gibeah, under a grove in Ramah." Here the Gemarists trifle: "Whence is it (say they) that Ramah is placed near Gibea? To hint to you, that the speech of Samuel of Ramah was the cause, why Saul remained two years and a half in Gibeah." They blindly …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS: I and II Samuel. I and II Kings. I and II Chronicles. NOTE.--As these three pairs of books are so closely related in their historical contents, it is deemed best to study them together, though they overlap the two divisions of IV and V. I. CHARTS Chart A. General Contents +--+ " I AND II SAMUEL " +-------------+-----+------+ "Samuel "Saul "David " +-------------+-----+------+----------+ " " " " I AND II KINGS "NOTE.--Biblical …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible

Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
BY JOHN BUNYAN PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR This important treatise was prepared for the press, and left by the author, at his decease, to the care of his surviving friend for publication. It first appeared in a collection of his works in folio, 1692; and although a subject of universal interest; most admirably elucidated; no edition has been published in a separate form. Antichrist has agitated the Christian world from the earliest ages; and his craft has been to mislead the thoughtless, by …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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