1 Samuel 22:11-23 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Samuel 22:11-23. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
For context, let’s start at verse 9.
1 Samuel 22:9-23 (NIV)
9 But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
10 Ahimelech inquired 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 Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father’s whole 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 inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”
14 Ahimelech 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 inquired 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 will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father’s 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 not willing 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 Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, 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 father’s whole family.
23 Stay with me; don’t be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.”
On verses 9-23: To understand what led to the murder of Ahimelech the priest, his family, 84 other priests as well as the entire town of Nob, we must first go back to verses 9-10 and understand who Doeg was and his role in this situation.
On paper Doeg was Saul’s head shepherd (v7), but his real role was as Saul’s personal assassin, his “closer”. To me Doeg fits the mold of a classic James Bond henchman, a heartless killer who speaks few words and flexes a lot of muscle, a one-man wrecking crew.
Doeg was there in the town of Nob when Ahimelech the priest spoke with David and gave David bread and a sword (1 Samuel 21:7). Doeg reports these events to Saul (v9-10). Saul sends for Ahimelech (v11-12) and accuses Ahimelech of conspiring with David against Saul (v13). The innocent Ahimelech speaks well of David but denies having anything to do with any conspiracy (v14-15). So Saul commands his guards to kill the priests on the basis that the priests have sided with David (v16-17). When Saul’s guards dared not lay a hand on the priests (v17b), Saul orders Doeg to strike the priests down, which he does swiftly, killing 85 priests (v18), as well as massacring the town of Nob where many priests and other men, women and children lived (v19). Only Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escapes and flees to David (v20).
David takes responsibility for the massacre, saying that he knew Doeg was there in Nob when David spoke with Ahimelech and knew that Doeg would tell Saul (v22). David commits to keeping Abiathar safe from Saul (v23).
Consider this: This massacre was the ultimate result of David speaking misleading words in 1 Samuel 2:1-9. When David first spoke to Ahimelech in 1 Samuel 21:1-9, David misled Ahimelech into believing that he was on a mission from King Saul. Ahimelech was suspicious of David at first (v1) but out of compassion Ahimelech helped David, taking David at his word. David spoke those misleading words to protect himself, but ultimately those misleading words led to the murder of Ahimelech, his family, the priests in Israel and an entire town of men, women and children. In an effort to protect himself, David ended up playing a role in the death of many others.
What can we learn from this? When we do or say things to mislead others, it can cause far more damage than we originally intended. It’s no wonder 1 Peter 2:1 says, “Be done with all deceit”. For when deceit is at the root of what we do, we may not see its ill effects immediately, but like weeds those effects will eventually appear, by which time the damage may be too late to undo. Let’s live with integrity and be honest in our dealings with others. As David himself would write, “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.” (Psalm 34:13)
Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching us today that when we practice deceit, it ultimately hurts us more than it helps us, and it can hurt many others whom we never intended to hurt. So I pray that we would live life simply, honestly, joyfully, with integrity, trusting in You to give us the protection and provision we need. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
