1Sa 22:6-23 | KingComments | STEP | Our attention is again focused on Saul who is sitting under a tree again and has his spear in his hand again. In what he says, we hear what lives in his heart. He speaks to his tribesmen, the Benjamites. They are related to him, but he has also committed them to himself by buying them with gifts. Saul is a man who complains about himself, feels sorry for himself and sees himself as a victim of the circumstances. We hear no reaction from his servants. They keep silent. Saul does not mention the name of David. It is a hated name to him. He despicable speaks of him as “the son of Jesse”. Although he tries to win over his servants by the reward, he sees them as conspirators against him. Because they do not speak as he does, he sees them as enemies. He even accuses his son Jonathan of stirring up David against him. A jealous man comes to the most foolish conspiracy theories. He also turns the matter upside down by calling David someone who lies in ambush against him. It is not David who assails him, but he assails David.

‏ 1 Samuel 22:6-23

Saul Calls David His Assailant

Our attention is again focused on Saul who is sitting under a tree again and has his spear in his hand again. In what he says, we hear what lives in his heart. He speaks to his tribesmen, the Benjamites. They are related to him, but he has also committed them to himself by buying them with gifts. Saul is a man who complains about himself, feels sorry for himself and sees himself as a victim of the circumstances. We hear no reaction from his servants. They keep silent.

Saul does not mention the name of David. It is a hated name to him. He despicable speaks of him as “the son of Jesse”. Although he tries to win over his servants by the reward, he sees them as conspirators against him. Because they do not speak as he does, he sees them as enemies. He even accuses his son Jonathan of stirring up David against him. A jealous man comes to the most foolish conspiracy theories. He also turns the matter upside down by calling David someone who lies in ambush against him. It is not David who assails him, but he assails David.

Achimelech Called to Account

The servants may keep silent; there is one who does not keep silent, and that is Doeg the Edomite. He will show that he good intentions toward Saul. Doeg tells Saul what he was an eyewitness to. In response to that, Saul lets Ahimelech come. Saul hears him, but not as it should be. The hearing is an accusation. The accusation is that Ahimelech helped a rebel to bread and a sword and also that he inquired of God for him. Then you are guilty of high treason, you are guilty of a coup d’état. Saul is already sure what he will do, he has already passed judgment.

Ahimelech puts himself on the side of Saul in his giving account. In his ignorance he defends David. He does not care much about David, but he wants to be neutral. There is nothing that Saul can charge him with, so he means. He indeed did not know that David was fleeing from Saul. All he has heard about David is that he faithfully serves Saul, is in a close family relationship with Saul, and that he obediently does what Saul asks of him. Is David not honored in the house of Saul? Surely, he can only see it as his duty to help David. By speaking of David in this way he gives a good testimony of him. But this is exactly what Saul hates so much. It only increases his anger.

The Verdict and the Execution

Saul is not willing to change his intention to kill Ahimelech. He himself pronounces the verdict. Ahimelech must die, together with his whole family (Ecc 3:16).

Because the priest did not tell him that David had been with him, he therefore colluded with the enemy. Whoever is not inspired by the same blind hatred of David, is on the side of David and must be killed. He orders his guards to kill the priests of whom he also says they are priests of the LORD. The guards do not dare to do that. By such an order Saul has lost his authority among his subordinates.

Then he turns to Doeg and orders him to kill the priests. That man kills eighty-five men without hesitation and then strikes Nob the city of the priests. Doeg does on behalf of Saul what Saul should have done with Amalek and in which Saul himself has saved what he found valuable (1Sam 15:3-9). By killing the whole family of Ahimelech, the word spoken about the house of Eli is fulfilled (1Sam 3:11), for Ahimelech is of the family of Eli.

Abiathar Flees to David

Yet the priesthood is preserved, for a son of Ahimelech escapes. He flees after David and tells him what happened (cf. Mt 14:10-12). When David hears it, he takes the blame. He offers Abiathar his protection and guarantees him safety. With his life, which Saul hunts, he guarantees him.

David writes at this occasion Psalm 52 (Psa 52:1a).