David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh (Psalm 57:1–11; Psalm 142:1–7)
1 ULT And David went from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And his brothers and all of the house of his father heard, and they went down to him there. BSB BSB: So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
2 ULT And they gathered themselves to him, every man of distress and every man for whom{ was} a creditor and every man bitter of soul. And he became a commander over them. And they{ were} with him, about 400 men. BSB BSB: And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
3 ULT And David went from there{ to} Mizpah of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab,“Please let my father and my mother come out{ and be} with you until when I know what God will do for me.” BSB BSB: From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.”
4 ULT And he led them to the face of the king of Moab. And they stayed with him all of the days of David being in the stronghold. BSB BSB: So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
5 ULT And the prophet Gad said to David,“Do not stay in the stronghold. Leave and enter for yourself the land of Judah.” And David left and entered the forest of Hereth. BSB BSB: Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
Saul Slays the Priests of Nob (Psalm 52:1–9)
6 ULT And Saul heard that David had become known, and the men who{ were} with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height, and his spear{ was} in his hand, and all of his servants had stationed themselves beside him. BSB BSB: Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with his spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.
7 ULT And Saul said to his servants having stationed themselves beside him,“Listen now, Benjaminite! Will the son of Jesse give fields and vineyards even to all of you? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? BSB BSB: Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?
8 ULT For all of you have conspired against me! And{ there was} no uncovering my ear when my son cut with the son of Jesse. And{ there was} no grieving from you for me or uncovering my ear that my son had raised up my servant against me to lie in ambush as this day.” BSB BSB: Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
9 ULT And Doeg the Edomite answered(now he had stationed himself beside the servants of Saul) and said,“I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub. BSB BSB: But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
10 ULT And he inquired of Yahweh for him, and he gave provisions to him. And he gave to him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” BSB BSB: Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 ULT And the king sent to call Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, the priest, and all of the house of his father, the priests who{ were} in Nob. And all of them came to the king. BSB BSB: Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.
12 ULT And Saul said,“Listen now, son of Ahitub.” And he said,“Behold me, my master.” BSB BSB: “Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied.
13 ULT And Saul said to him,“Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by your giving to him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, to rise up against me, to lie in ambush, as this day?” BSB BSB: 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.”
14 ULT And Ahimelech answered the king and said,“Now who among all of your servants is being faithful like David, and the son- in- law of the king, and commander over your bodyguard, and being honored in your house? BSB BSB: Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?
15 ULT Did I begin to inquire of God for him today? Profane to me! May the king not set a word against his servant, against all of the house of my father. For your servant does not know about any of this matter, small or great.” BSB BSB: Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”
16 ULT And the king said,“Dying, you shall die, Ahimelech, you and all of the house of your father!” BSB BSB: But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”
17 ULT And the king said to the runners having stationed themselves beside him,“Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh, because their hand{ is} also with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing but they did not uncover my ear.” But the servants of the king were not willing to stretch out their hand to attack the priests of Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
18 ULT So the king said to Doeg,“You turn and attack the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and he himself attacked the priests. And on that day he killed 85 men wearing a linen ephod. BSB BSB: So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
19 ULT And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck to the mouth of the sword, from man and to woman, from child and to infant, and ox and donkey and sheep, to the mouth of the sword. BSB BSB: He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
21 ULT And Abiathar declared to David that Saul had killed the priests of Yahweh. BSB BSB: And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.
22 ULT And David said to Abiathar,“I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite{ was} there, that declaring, he would declare to Saul. I myself have turned against every soul of the house of your father! BSB BSB: Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.
23 ULT Stay with me, do not be afraid. For{ he} who seeks my life seeks your life. Surely protection{ for} you{ is} with me.” BSB BSB: Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life is seeking mine as well. You will be safe with me.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.