David's Refuge and the Priests of Nob

David escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father’s household came down to him there. Other people gathered too: people in distress, in debt, and deeply troubled. David became their leader, and about four hundred men were with him.

From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab. He asked the king of Moab to let his father and mother stay there until he knew what God would do for him. They remained with the king while David was in the stronghold. Then the prophet Gad told David to leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah, so David went to the forest of Hereth.

Saul heard that David had been found, along with the men with him. As Saul sat with his servants around him, he accused them of turning against him. Then Doeg the Edomite spoke up. He said he had seen David come to Nob, where Ahimelech had inquired of the LORD for him, given him food, and given him Goliath’s sword.

Saul sent for Ahimelech the priest and all his father’s house, the priests at Nob. Ahimelech answered respectfully and said David had been a faithful servant of the king, and that he had known nothing of Saul’s accusation. But Saul declared that Ahimelech and all his father’s house must die. Saul’s own guards refused to strike the priests of the LORD.

Then Saul ordered Doeg to attack. Doeg killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also struck Nob, the city of the priests, killing men and women, children and nursing babies, and also the cattle, donkeys, and sheep. One son of Ahimelech, Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.

When Abiathar told him what had happened, David said he had known Doeg would tell Saul, and that he was responsible for the death of Abiathar’s father’s house. David told Abiathar to stay with him and not be afraid, because the one seeking David’s life was seeking Abiathar’s life too.