Day 53 – 1 Samuel 22:11-20
Scripture Review
1 Samuel 22:11-20
"Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king."
(1 Samuel 22:11)
Saul calls for Ahimelech and, "all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob." Saul wants the whole priestly family present.
"And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord."
(1 Samuel 22:12)
Ahimelech answers Saul with respect. "Here I am, my lord." He stands before an angry king, yet he answers plainly and humbly.
"And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?"
(1 Samuel 22:13)
Saul frames everything as a conspiracy, bread, a sword, and enquired of God. In Saul's mouth, acts of help become acts of treason. Notice how often Saul says "against me." His mind is full of self. Again, jealousy has twisted his judgment so badly that he reads loyalty to David as rebellion against the throne.
"Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?"
(1 Samuel 22:14)
Ahimelech defends David with simple truths. He calls David "faithful," "the king's son in law," and "honourable in thine house." He speaks from what had been known publicly. Ahimelech does not flatter Saul here, he tells the truth about David's standing.
"Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more."
(1 Samuel 22:15)
Ahimelech pleads his innocence before Saul. "thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more." He denies any knowledge of conspiracy. He asks Saul not to charge the whole house: "let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father." He is pleading for justice, not only for himself, but for all the priests.
"And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house."
(1 Samuel 22:16)
There is no trial, no weighing of words, no mercy. Saul's heart and mind are fixed upon death. Death not just for Ahimelech but, "thou, and all thy father's house."
"And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD."
(1 Samuel 22:17)
Saul command his guards to do his evil deed. He calls them "the priests of the LORD," and still orders their death. That makes his sinful actions even darker if possible.
But, "the servants of the king would not put forth their hand." They knew in their heart a certain line must not be crossed.
"And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod."
(1 Samuel 22:18)
Saul turned from Israelites who feared God to an Edomite who did not. "fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod." These were not faceless people. These were the Lord's serving priests. The mention of the linen ephod makes the massacre feel even more terrible.
"And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword."
(1 Samuel 22:19)
Saul's wrath went from killing priests to the whole city. Men, women, children, babies, even animals, everything is struck. This is not justice. This is bloodthirsty wrath. It is one of the darkest fruits of a heart that will not bow to God.
When sin is not repented of, it grows from jealousy, to false accusation, to murder, to devastation.
"And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David."
(1 Samuel 22:20)
I see mercy in the middle of judgment, "Abiathar, escaped." One priest lives and he runs to David. "fled after David." In the middle of slaughter, God preserves a remnant and joins him to David.
Even in very dark moments, the Lord does not let His purpose die.
This portion of scripture is hard to read because it shows how ugly a resisting heart can become. Saul will not submit to God's will, so he lashes out at priests, servants, and a whole city. But Ahimelech stands innocent, the Saul's footmen refuse to do his evil, and Abiathar escapes. So even here, God is showing the difference between a heart hardened against Him and a heart that fears Him.