1 Samuel 22 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Sam 22:1-5

1 David 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. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered round him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

3 From 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?’ 4 So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

5 But 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.

A. Find Out:

1. To where did David escape? v.1a (look it up on a map if possible)
2. Who first joined him there? v.1b
3. Who also came to him there? v.2
4. Where did he go next and why? v.3
5. Who was advising David? v.5a
6. Where did David go to next? v.5b

B. Think

1. What does it say about David that all these people came to him?
2. What does it say about him that the prophet Gad came to him?
3. What do his actions in respect of his parents say about him?

C. Comment:

     We now move into stage 1 of the build up of David as a man of power. So far he has been alone but that all changes. The word obviously gets out where he is and first of all his family come to him. It would seem that they are probably aware of the threat to them from Saul by simply being his family, and so they come to him. There is a sense of family unity and “pride in our son” about this. This creates some form of relational stability for David at this time.

     Then come those who are in various kinds of trouble. Again perhaps it is the pressures on their lives that encourage them to gather to him, but they obviously feel he will welcome them.  This gives David purpose (looking after and training these men) and eventually strength and power with an army.

     Finally there is reference to the prophet Gad advising him. That a man who hears from God comes and joins himself to David is a good sign, for such a man must have a sense of the will and purpose of God and if he is with David, it indicates that that is where he considers the future of Israel will be. This gives David greater depth of relationship with the Lord.

     The way ahead is not easy, for he is still on the run, but at least he is not alone.  He has a stronger relational base with his family there. This rag-bag of men coming to him will be turned into an efficient fighting force and so David has much to do with them.  Gad brings him greater confidence with the Lord. The future is looking brighter!

D. Application:

1. What is it that attracts the poor and needy? A Christ-like character and heart. May we have it.
2. Do we see people’s potential, or do we write off the poor and needy?  God’s heart is for them!

Passage: 1 Sam 22:6-23

6 Now 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. 7 He 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? 8 Is 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.’

9 But 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. 10 Ahimelek enquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.’

11 Then 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. 12 Saul said, ‘Listen now, son of Ahitub.’

‘Yes, my lord,’ he answered.

13 Saul said to him, ‘Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and enquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?’

14 Ahimelek 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? 15 Was that day the first time I enquired 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.’

16 But the king said, ‘You shall surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.’

17 Then 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.

18 The 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. 19 He 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.

20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then 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. 23 Stay 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.’

A. Find Out:    

1. Of what does Saul accuse the people around him? v.8
2. Who replied to him? v.9
3. How did Ahimelech describe David? v.14
4. How did Saul respond to him? v.16
5. What was the guards’ response to Saul’s command? v.17
6. How did David respond when he heard of Ahimelech’s death? v.22

B. Think:

     How would you summarise in your own words, through their words and actions, the characters of:  a) Saul   b) Doeg  c) Ahimelech   d) David

C. Comment:

     The word comes to Saul that David is gathering men and he automatically sees this as a conspiracy to overthrow him. When he accuses all around him of being involved, Doeg the Edomite speaks up and tells of David having gone to the priests. Saul sends for the priest, ignores his words and orders him to be killed. Only the foreigner, Doeg, was willing to raise his hand against priests. When David hears of this through Ahimilech’s son who flees, he takes the responsibility.

     In this passage we see two powers drawn up against each other, the dominion of darkness and the kingdom of God.

      In the dominion of darkness is paranoid Saul, who abuses his authority by an unjust act and abuses God by his destruction of the priests. There is also the ungodly Doeg who is not afraid to raise his hand against the Lord’s chosen ones.

       In the kingdom of God there is first of all Ahimilech the priest who has done nothing wrong and when he is challenged about it, merely speaks the truth with no rancor. There is also David who faces his part in it all and takes responsibility for it and the consequences of it.

     When trying circumstances arise we can act as either children of darkness or children of the light. What will it be?

D. Application:

1. May we follow the example of honesty and integrity of the priest.
2. May we face our responsibilities like David.