1 Samuel 22:16-18 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:6-19

We have seen the progress of David's troubles; now here we have the progress of Saul's wickedness. He seems to have laid aside the thoughts of all other business and to have devoted himself wholly to the pursuit of David. He heard at length, by the common fame of the country, that David was discovered (that is, that he appeared publicly and enlisted men into his service); and hereupon he called all his servants about him, and sat down under a tree, or grove, in the high place at Gibeah, with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:16

And the king said, thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech ,.... He pronounces the sentence himself, without taking the opinion and advice of others, or further time; which was an act of arbitrary power, and upon an innocent person, which was an act of great injustice: thou, and all thy father's house ; more unrighteous still; but God suffered him to do this to fulfil his will, and execute his threatenings against the house of Eli, which was this priest's father's house, for former wickedness;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:17

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him ,.... Or the "runners" F6 לרצים "cursoribus", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; the running footmen, that used to run before him when he went out from place to place, and were here waiting on him, ready to set out whenever he should give the orders to go elsewhere. The tradition of the Jews is, that these were Abner and Amasa F7 Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel. in loc. ; but, as Kimchi observes, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:18

And the king said to Doeg, turn thou and fall upon the priests ,.... For determined he was they should die; if one would not put them to death, another should, and who so fit for this bloody work as the false accuser of them, and false witness against them? and Doeg the Edomite turned ; immediately, he at once obeyed the king's orders, as brutish as they were: and fell upon the priests ; with his sword in hand: and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:17

But the servants of the king would not - They dared to disobey the commands of the king in a case of such injustice, inhumanity, and irreligion. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:18

And Doeg - fell upon the priests - A ruthless Edomite, capable of any species of iniquity. Fourscore and five persons - The Septuagint read τριακοσιους και πεντε ανδρας , three hundred and five men; and Josephus has three hundred and eighty-five men. Probably the eighty-five were priests; the three hundred, the families of the priests; three hundred and eighty-five being the whole population of Nob. That did wear a linen ephod - That is, persons who did... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:6-16

Resistance to God's purposes. The facts are— 1 . Saul, hearing at Gibeah of David's movements, makes an appeal to his Benjamite attendants. 2 . He insinuates the existence of secret designs against himself, connivance at David's supposed purpose, and lack of pity for his condition. 3 . Thereupon Doeg the Edomite relates what he saw at Nob, and makes the statement that the high priest inquired of the Lord for David. 4 . Saul sends for Ahimelech and charges him with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:14-16

Ahimelech's answers are those of an innocent man who had supposed that what he did was a matter of course. But his enumeration of David's privileges of rank and station probably only embittered the king. In his eyes David was of all Saul s officers the most faithful , both trusty and trusted (see on 1 Samuel 2:35 ). He was, moreover, the king's son-in-law ; but the next words, he goeth at thy bidding , more probably mean, "has admission to thy audience," i.e. is thy privy councillor,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:17-19

Footmen . Hebrew, "runners." They were the men who ran by the side of the king's horse or chariot as his escort (see on 1 Samuel 8:11 ). In constant training, they were capable of maintaining a great speed for a very long time. Here they were present at the king's council as his bodyguard, but when commanded to commit this horrid deed not one of them stirred from his place. Saul might have seen by this that he was alienating the hearts of all right minded men from him; but, unabashed, he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:17-23

The tragedy at Nob. The facts are— 1 . Saul commands his guards to slay the priests of Nob, but they refuse. 2 . Thereupon he commands Doeg to effect their death, who slays eighty-five priests, and procures the destruction of the entire city. 3 . Abiathar, escaping to David, makes known to him what has happened. 4 . David perceives that his presence at Nob was the occasion of this sad calamity, and admits that he feared the course Doeg would take. 5 . He encourages... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:6-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 22:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:6-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:14-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:17-19

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 22:17-23

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