Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. New Living Translation When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD, English Standard Version And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Berean Standard Bible And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Berean Literal Bible And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of YHWH. King James Bible And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. New King James Version And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the LORD’s priests. New American Standard Bible Abiathar informed David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. NASB 1995 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. NASB 1977 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Legacy Standard Bible And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of Yahweh. Amplified Bible Abiathar told David that Saul had murdered the LORD’S priests. Berean Annotated Bible And Abiathar (my father is great) told David (beloved) that Saul (desired) had killed the priests of the LORD {YHWH}. Christian Standard Bible Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Holman Christian Standard Bible Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. American Standard Version And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Jehovah's priests. Contemporary English Version and told him, "Saul has murdered the LORD's priests at Nob!" English Revised Version And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. GOD'S WORD® Translation Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the LORD's priests. Good News Translation He told him how Saul had slaughtered the priests of the LORD. International Standard Version Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. NET Bible Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. New Heart English Bible Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests. Webster's Bible Translation And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. World English Bible Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh’s priests. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Abiathar declares to David that Saul has slain the priests of YHWH. Berean Literal Bible And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of YHWH. Young's Literal Translation and Abiathar declareth to David that Saul hath slain the priests of Jehovah. Smith's Literal Translation And Abiathar will announce to David that Saul slew the priests of Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd told him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord. Catholic Public Domain Version And he reported to him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord. New American Bible When Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the priests of the LORD, New Revised Standard Version Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the priests of God. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Abiathar showed to David that Shaul had killed the Priests of God OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain all the priests of the Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Saul Slays the Priests of Nob…20But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. 21And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 22Then 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.… Cross References And Abiathar told David 1 Samuel 23:6 (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) 1 Samuel 30:7-8 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him, / and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.” 2 Samuel 15:24-29 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city. / Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again. / But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.” … that Saul had killed 2 Samuel 21:1-2 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) 1 Samuel 19:10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded him and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. Psalm 52:1-5 For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. / Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. / You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah … the priests of the LORD. 1 Samuel 21:1-9 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” / “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. / Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.” … 1 Samuel 2:27-36 Then a man of God came to Eli and told him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to your father’s house when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh’s house? / And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites. / Why then do you kick at My sacrifice and offering that I have prescribed for My dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves with the best of all the offerings of My people Israel.’ … 2 Chronicles 13:9 But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods. Matthew 23:34-35 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. / And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Luke 11:50-51 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, / from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation. 1 Samuel 2:31-33 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no one in it will reach old age. / You will see distress in My dwelling place. Despite all that is good in Israel, no one in your house will ever again reach old age. / And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, I will cause your eyes to fail and your heart to grieve. All your descendants will die by the sword of men. 1 Kings 2:26-27 Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.” / So Solomon banished Abiathar from the priesthood of the LORD and thus fulfilled the word that the LORD had spoken at Shiloh against the house of Eli. Hebrews 11:37-38 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. / The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground. Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— Jeremiah 26:20-23 Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did. / King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt. / Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men. … Treasury of Scripture And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests. Jump to Previous Abiathar Abi'athar David Death Declareth Informed Jehovah's Killed LORD's News Priests Saul Showed SlainJump to Next Abiathar Abi'athar David Death Declareth Informed Jehovah's Killed LORD's News Priests Saul Showed Slain1 Samuel 22 1. Companies resort unto David at Adullam3. At Mizpeh he commends his parents unto the king of Moab 5. Admonished by Gad, he comes to Hareth, 6. Saul going to pursue him, complains of his servants' unfaithfulness 9. Doeg accuses Ahimelech 11. Saul commands to kill the priests 17. The footmen refusing, Doeg executes it 20. Abiathar escaping, brings David the news And Abiathar told David Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, was the sole survivor of the massacre at Nob, where Saul ordered the killing of the priests. This event marks the beginning of Abiathar's long association with David, eventually becoming his high priest. Abiathar's escape to David signifies a shift in the priestly support from Saul to David, foreshadowing David's future kingship. This moment also highlights the importance of communication and loyalty in times of crisis. that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbiatharThe son of Ahimelech, the high priest. He escaped the massacre of the priests at Nob and fled to David, becoming a loyal supporter and serving as a priest during David's reign. 2. David The future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel, who was at this time a fugitive from King Saul. David represents God's chosen leader, in contrast to Saul's disobedience. 3. Saul The first king of Israel, who had turned away from God's commands. His jealousy and fear of David led him to commit the atrocity of killing the priests at Nob. 4. Priests of the LORD The priests at Nob, led by Ahimelech, who were killed by Saul's command. This event highlights Saul's increasing departure from God's will. 5. Nob A city of priests, where the tabernacle was located at the time. It became the site of Saul's brutal massacre, illustrating the consequences of his disobedience. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceSaul's actions against the priests demonstrate the severe consequences of turning away from God's commands. Disobedience can lead to destructive outcomes not only for the individual but also for others. God's Sovereignty and Justice Despite the tragedy at Nob, God's plan continues through David. This reminds us that God's purposes prevail even in the face of human sinfulness. The Role of the Priesthood Abiathar's survival and service to David underscore the importance of the priesthood in guiding and supporting God's chosen leaders. It highlights the need for spiritual leadership aligned with God's will. Seeking Refuge in God Abiathar's flight to David symbolizes seeking refuge in God's anointed. In times of trouble, we are encouraged to seek God's presence and protection. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 22:21?2. How does 1 Samuel 22:21 highlight the consequences of Saul's disobedience to God? 3. What can we learn about loyalty from Abiathar's actions in 1 Samuel 22:21? 4. How does Abiathar's escape connect with God's protection in Psalm 91? 5. How should we respond when witnessing unjust actions, as seen in 1 Samuel 22:21? 6. What role does seeking God's guidance play in avoiding Saul's mistakes? 7. Why did Abiathar escape to David in 1 Samuel 22:21? 8. How does 1 Samuel 22:21 reflect God's protection over His chosen leaders? 9. What historical evidence supports the events in 1 Samuel 22:21? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 22? 11. Who was Abiathar in the Bible? 12. Why did Doeg betray David to King Saul? 13. In 2 Samuel 21:19, how could Elhanan have killed Goliath when David is credited with that feat in 1 Samuel 17? 14. How does 1 Samuel 13:1-2 reconcile with Acts 13:21, which states Saul reigned for forty years? What Does 1 Samuel 22:21 Mean And Abiathar told David• Abiathar, the lone survivor of the massacre at Nob (1 Samuel 22:20), seeks refuge with David, the anointed yet still-waiting king (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 5:3). • His report is not rumor but eyewitness testimony, underscoring the factual reliability of the narrative (Proverbs 14:25). • By coming straight to David, Abiathar aligns himself with the Lord’s chosen leader, much as Jonathan earlier acknowledged David’s future rule (1 Samuel 23:17). • This moment forges a lasting partnership: Abiathar will serve as high priest alongside Zadok throughout David’s reign (2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Kings 2:27). • The scene foreshadows Christ, our true High Priest, who also suffered persecution from earthly authorities (Hebrews 13:12-13). that Saul had killed • Saul’s action fulfills Samuel’s warning that the king would take life and property when he turned from the Lord (1 Samuel 8:11-18). • His direct order to slay innocent priests (1 Samuel 22:17-19) shows how far he has drifted from earlier humility (1 Samuel 10:22). • The verb “killed” is stark: Saul becomes the very threat he once protected Israel against (1 Samuel 11:11, 13-15). • Scripture repeatedly holds leaders accountable for shedding innocent blood (Genesis 9:6; 2 Kings 21:16); Saul’s deed accelerates divine judgment that will culminate at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1-6). • David, though often hunted, never answers evil with evil (1 Samuel 24:6-7; Romans 12:17-19). the priests of the LORD • Priests were set apart to mediate between God and His people (Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 10:11). Striking them was tantamount to striking at the Lord Himself (Numbers 16:9-11). • Nob’s priests had earlier aided David in good faith (1 Samuel 21:6), unaware of Saul’s hostility. Their death highlights the cost of associating with God’s anointed (Matthew 10:22). • This tragedy traces back to Eli’s house (1 Samuel 2:31-33). Abiathar, Eli’s descendant, alone escapes, fulfilling the prophecy that one would be spared to “weep his eyes out” (1 Samuel 2:33). • The loss of the priesthood at Nob drives David to seek God even more earnestly through Abiathar and the ephod (1 Samuel 23:9-12; 30:7-8), illustrating how God provides ongoing access to Him despite human sin. summary Abiathar’s report to David lays bare the widening gulf between Saul and the Lord. Saul’s massacre of the priests marks his final plunge into rebellion, while Abiathar’s flight to David signals God’s preservation of both priestly and royal lines. The verse reminds believers that God faithfully safeguards His purposes and His people, even when earthly powers unleash violence. Hebrew And Abiatharאֶבְיָתָ֖ר (’eḇ·yā·ṯār) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 54: Abiathar -- 'the great one is father', an Israelite priest told וַיַּגֵּ֥ד (way·yag·gêḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous David לְדָוִ֑ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse that כִּ֚י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction Saul שָׁא֔וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites had killed הָרַ֣ג (hā·raḡ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent the priests כֹּהֲנֵ֥י (kō·hă·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 3548: Priest of the LORD. יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Links 1 Samuel 22:21 NIV1 Samuel 22:21 NLT 1 Samuel 22:21 ESV 1 Samuel 22:21 NASB 1 Samuel 22:21 KJV 1 Samuel 22:21 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 22:21 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 22:21 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 22:21 French Bible 1 Samuel 22:21 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 22:21 Abiathar told David that Saul had slain (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |



