David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh
(Psalm 57:1–11; Psalm 142:1–7)

1And David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And his brothers heard it, and all the house of his father, and they went down to him there. 2And gathered to him every man in distress, and every man who himself was indebted, and everyone bitter in soul, and he was captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

3And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here† with you⁺, until that I know what God will do for me.” 4And he brought them in before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.

5And Gad the prophet said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” And David departed and entered the forest of Hereth.

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob
(Psalm 52:1–9)

6And Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had become known. And Saul was staying in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height, and his spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.

7And Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Listen now, sons of Benjamin! Even to all of you⁺ will the son of Jesse give fields and vineyards, and make you⁺ all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds? 8For you⁺ have all conspired against me, and there is no one uncovering my ear that my son has cut in with the son of Jesse. And none of you⁺ has shown concern for me or uncovered to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait as this day.”

9And answered Doeg the Edomite, and he was set over the servants of Saul, and he said, “I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub. 10And he inquired for him of YHWH, and he gave provisions to him, and the sword of Goliath the Philistine he gave to him.”

11And the king sent to call Ahimelech son of Ahitub the priest, and all the house of his father, the priests who were in Nob. And they all came to the king. 12And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.”

And he answered, “Behold, my lord.”

13And Saul said to him, “Why have you⁺ conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in your giving to him bread and a sword and inquiring for him of God, that he should rise against me to lie in wait, as this day?”

14And Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, and son-in-law of the king, and has turned aside at your council, and is honorable in your house? 15Today did I begin to inquire for him of God? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, or to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this matter, small or great.”

16And the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all the house of your father.”

17And the king said to the guards who stood beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of YHWH, because their hands are also with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.”

But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of YHWH.

18And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you and kill the priests.”

And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he himself attacked the priests. And he killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 19And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the mouth of the sword, from men and to women, from children and to nursing infants, and oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, with the mouth of the sword.

20And escaped one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, and his name was Abiathar, and he fled after David. 21And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of YHWH.

22And David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself have turned against every soul of the house of your father. 23Stay with me; fear not, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, but you are safe with me.”