1 Samuel 22 Early Recruits
David will no longer be running alone. His family will be among the early recruits. His numbers will continue to grow as he welcomes the downtrodden and outcasts.
David is back in the land of Judah. I’m pretty sure he felt directed by the Lord to return. Circumstances certainly led him that way. When he arrives, he is discovered by those sympathetic to his cause. He will be surprised by how many people are ready to throw their support behind him.
We will also encounter Doeg again. That night that he spied David will have dire consequences. MANY will lose their lives because of Doeg; because of his words and his hands. As a consequence of Doeg’s desire to please Saul, David will gain another ‘recruit’ to his cause.
The last time through this section, the Spirit took us on a personal look at the story. I’ve done a few tweaks here and there, but not much. Let’s rejoin the story and walk the path again that was laid down for us before.
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David is making his way back into Israel. He has to pass through the same valley of Elah again. This is the same valley he was gazing towards when he made his ill-conceived plan to seek safety in Gath. It is the same valley he had to pass through to get to Gath. And it is the same valley where he faced Goliath. David knows this valley well. He should, as he is also a shepherd from this area.
When walking through the valley David is thinking back over his past. He was once content to be a shepherd. Life was SO much simpler back then. It wasn’t without its risks and its periods of boredom, like any other job. But it was safer than being hunted by the king for things you didn’t do!
David was feeling frustrated and alone as he looked for a good hiding place. While thinking over his options David remembered a large cave he used to play in as a young boy. It would offer him shelter, a safe vantage point and closer proximity to his home town. Adullam was also obscure enough that Saul probably hadn’t heard of it.
Night was beginning to set in when David reached the cave. He was tired, hungry and cold. He had nothing but the clothes on his back. The bread he picked up at Nob was LONG gone. The sword of Goliath was taken at Gath. He had no purse or coins to put in one. He did have an outer garment that Jonathan had provided him with for the nights of waiting for an answer regarding Saul. This is his only ‘creature comfort’ and it will be VERY welcome while hiding in the cave of Adullam.
To care for his hunger David helps himself to some figs from a nearby tree and some berries that grow wild in the area. Once his meager meal is done he gathers wood for a fire and rocks suitable for making a spark to ignite it. David learned well the lessons of survival from his youth and honed those skills to a fine point while serving in Saul’s army. He will at least have a fire to keep wild animals away and warm himself by. He will build his fire inside the cave to prevent him from giving away his position while also allowing him to see if there are any animals currently using the cave as their home.
Finally, all is secure and in order. David lies down to sleep. He has no soft mat to lie on nor pillow for his head but his sleep is sweet. He is safe once again in the country of his birth. And he knows the Lord is watching over him.
When morning breaks David opens his eyes to a surprise. Someone is seated beside the place the fire burned in the night. It is a young man close to David’s age. He is smiling as he silently watches David. David sits up quickly, not sure what to make of his visitor.
“Good morning” greets the visitor.
“Good morning to you also” replies David.
The young man produces a pouch from behind him. He opens it and offers David some of the bread it contains.
“Thank you for your kindness” says David. “May I ask how you found me and what your intentions are?”
“I am Liam. I am a shepherd and was pasturing my flock nearby. I observed your arrival last evening. Have no fear. I know who you are and am a friend. Saul will not learn of your presence from me but someone else has already been told; your family.”
“My family knows I am here? Are they safe? Has Saul pressured them to find me?”
“They are safe. They will be arriving later today. Saul has indeed made their lives difficult in trying to find you, but the people of Bethlehem have helped hide them from his men.”
“Why are they coming here? Are they in danger where they are?”
“There is always danger but they want to help you. They want to be your support during this difficult time.”
David’s eyes mist over as he thinks of his parents. They are in their declining years yet they seek to offer him their support. He should be the one caring for them at this point, not the other way around.
David and Liam share the meal Liam so generously provided and swap stories of their days as shepherds. They pass the morning in this manner and thoroughly enjoy one another’s company. It has been a while since David simply sat and visited with a friend.
By midday people begin arriving in groups of two and three at a time. They traveled thusly so as not to attract suspicion. David’s father and eldest brother are the first to arrive. David greets both with a strong embrace. A few days ago he didn’t know if he would ever see them again and now here they are, in his hiding place.
“David my son” says Jesse and he holds his son’s face in between his wrinkled hands. These hands hold so many memories for David. Times of discipline. Times of tender touches. Times of guiding his own through some new task. David is most grateful for the love found in his father’s hands.
After greetings are completed Jesse gets down to business. “There are many people in Judah who have become disillusioned by Saul’s behavior. He has become cruel in his treatment of those who do not agree with him, especially when it comes to you. If anyone questions his intentions towards Israel’s great hero he finds a way for them to become bereft of property and indebted to him. These men wish to join you and see the Lord’s will done in your life.”
“I would be honored to have their help and loyalty. They must know though that I will NOT go against the king. I will not place my life in his hands but neither will I seek his life. He is the Lord’s anointed and I will not raise my hand against the one so chosen by God.”
“Well said my son. This will be told to any who wish to join us.”
By evening about 50 people had joined David in the Cave of Adullam. They brought with them supplies that would be needed to sustain them, including whatever they had on hand as weapons. David was even supplied with another sling and a sword which was brought by his brother from Saul’s own armory. He had kept his when he left Saul’s service and he gladly surrendered it to David as a token of his loyalty.
People continued to trickle in in groups of five or fewer for many days. David welcomed family, old friends, former comrades and new acquaintances who felt safe in David’s keeping. As the group grew so did David’s sense of responsibility for these people. Initially he was the one receiving aid. Now he was the one who would be charged with providing it.
David began to organize the men into companies as they arrived. He enlisted the help of his brothers and cousins in assessing the skills and the best use of the arrivals. His aim was to create a fighting force strong enough to protect the women and children who were among them and to offer their services to others in need. This would give their group a means of support and be a buffer between raiding parties from other lands and the people of Israel.
Within a week the number of people who came to David was about four hundred men, not including women and children. Their numbers had outgrown the Cave of Adullam. They needed to find another place to stay. This would be a difficult task. They needed somewhere large enough to accommodate their numbers, be defensible in the event of attack or discovery, have available sources of food and water, and be remote enough that Saul’s forces would not notice their passage to it.
David also realized that this would mean traveling a great distance on foot. He was concerned about his parents. They were well on in years and would have difficulty making such a journey. As David was on the run from Saul, he had no idea how many of these journeys would be required of him and those who accompanied him. He could not ask his parents to commit to such a life. But it was also not safe for them to return to Bethlehem. Saul was certain to find out about the people coming to David and that his family was among them. David needed somewhere safe for his parents to remain until the Lord had completed His work.
David had another idea similar to the one he had about Gath. He prayed this one would be much more successful. David’s great grandmother was from Moab. He prayed that he could find safety for his parents among the people of Moab as they were related. They could claim kinship and ask for protection while he turned his attention to dealing with those that followed him and the people of Israel.
David discussed his plan with his brothers and his parents. It was agreed that this plan was sound. David was grateful to have others to weigh such matters with. The counsel of many, within reason, brought with it wisdom.
Two days later David and his band set off for Moab. There was a city in the southern region of Moab that was deserted that they intended to settle in for a time. It was within the borders of Moab but had been broken down during a previous battle. They could expect to reach it in two weeks travel with the company they had.
David led his band south before heading east. He wanted distance between him and Saul as fast as possible so he pushed the group hard during the first few days. As they had no water transportation they would have to go around the Salt Sea to reach Moab. This portion of their journey was difficult as they moved from a higher elevation and more abundant water to desert like conditions before ascending again in Moab.
The days quickly took on a routine. As soon as it was light people would begin the tasks of the day. The women would prepare a meal to break the night’s fast while the men packed the tents and bedding used the night before. Once the meal was consumed the camp would head out. Two to three scouts preceded the group to find the most accessible path. The women and children walked in the middle with men on both flanks. The herds followed behind the group with men armed for conflict bringing up the rear. At midday a rest break was called. This allowed time for a quick meal. By late afternoon the scouts would return to the group and direct it to an appropriate site to make camp for the night. The men would make camp and tend to the animals while the women prepared the evening meal and tended to the children. Stories and relaxed conversations followed the evening meal for most. Sentries were posted for night watch in two hour shifts so none would be too exhausted for the next day’s march. The Sabbath was the only day that differed. On this day the camp stayed in place until the following morning. They were in a hurry to get to their destination but NOT is so much of a hurry that they would tempt the Lord by ignoring His commandments.
By the time the company reached Moab everyone was ready for a break from their daily routine. It was almost a joy to work on clearing away the rubble and making the small city defensible again. Although it was hard work it spoke of settling down, at least for a time.
David and his band did not go unnoticed by the inhabitants of Moab. They were confronted by the king and asked their intentions. The king of Moab did NOT take kindly to Israelites taking over his territory even if his people weren’t currently using it.
David assured him that their stay was temporary before he posed his request concerning his parents.
“I am David, son of Jesse. We come to Moab under the right of kinship. Ruth, the Moabite, was grandmother to my father. She traveled to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi. Do you know of her story?”
“We do. She was spoken of highly for her devotion to Naomi.”
“I seek protection for her grandson, my father, and his wife. They are in danger from the king of Israel through no act of their own. I ask that they may remain with you until that danger passes. I and my company will depart if you so require, but may we be allowed a short time of refreshing after our long journey first. We swear we will take not even water without rendering compensation.”
“Your parents are welcome under my protection as kin of Ruth. As for your company, you may have three days’ rest. You will journey no farther than the boundaries of this city and take nothing from it with you when you depart. That is the best I can do for you. We have not the resources to sustain a group of your number.”
“It will be as you command. Thank you for watching over my parents. I will send for them once the danger is passed.”
David’s parents leave with the contingent from Moab and David returns to tell his people the king’s decision. He wishes they could have remained longer but he is not willing to risk battle with Moab over the matter.
Three days later David and his group leave Moab as promised. The scouts have found a defensible stronghold on the border of Israel and Moab. It offers just what David is looking for. With his parents safe he can now look to the business of Israel.
David and his group remain in this stronghold in unclaimed territory for four months. They have served as a buffer against raiding parties from Amalek. One day the prophet Gad, who had joined David’s band early on, came to him with a word from the Lord.
“Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah” (verse 5a).
David sent word throughout the camp that they would leave the next day. He would obey the Lord. Scouts were sent out into the land of Judah and a site in the forest of Hereth was chosen for their next sojourn.
While David is in his stronghold, Saul is in his garden. Surrounding each are men loyal to them. But their objectives differ. While David is bent on protecting, Saul is bent on annihilation.
Saul is in his favorite place in his whole realm. He is sitting under his tamarisk tree on a hill near his home. He came here as a lad and often found peace beneath its bows. He remembered tending it with his father and also his sons when they were young. Now he has servants to tend it but he still enjoys sitting under it and watching the world go by.
He is NOT receiving the peace he has come to associate with this tree. Today he is surrounded by his servants who have just brought him distressing news. David has gained a following. Saul wanted to prevent this! Israel already touts him as their great hero, now they are flocking to him to join him as he rips the kingdom from Saul. Saul is berating his servants for not finding David for him sooner. If they truly cared about him, they wouldn’t have let things get this far!
“Here now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day” (1 Samuel 22:7b-8, emphasis added).
Many of the faces around Saul turn down towards the ground. They do not know how to answer their king. They have NOT conspired against him. They have been loyal to their king. They are saddened by this rift between Saul and David.
One face shines with excitement. That of Doeg the Edomite. He was very pleased to be summoned to stand before Saul. He wishes he would have been allowed in weeks ago because he has news that Saul seems to be desperately seeking. He is hoping for some kind of reward for the information he holds.
Doeg steps forward and speaks directly to Saul.
“I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine” (1 Samuel 22:9b-10).
Saul is so angry his face is bright red. How could the priest do this behind his back? They will pay for their crime of treason!
“Issue an order! Summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, and all the priests at Nob. They are to report to stand before me before evening falls.”
The call goes out immediately and is delivered to Nob in less than an hour. The priests take a little longer in responding. It takes them time to prepare and travel to Gibeah. They do not want to appear before Saul without their best robes on as this would likely offend him. The purpose of their visit has been kept from them so they want to be prepared for anything. Ahimelech leaves his son and a few other priests behind to tend to the Tabernacle.
Ahimelech and the Levites from Nob come to stand before Saul. Ahimelech is the high priest so naturally he is the spokesmen for the group. As they approach Saul, they can tell by his countenance that something is very wrong. Before Ahimelech even opens his mouth in greeting, Saul begins speaking with a sneer and contempt in his voice.
“Hear now, son of Ahitub” (1 Samuel 22:12a).
Ahimelech is confused by Saul’s attitude but answers back with a respectful tone and attitude. “Here I am, my lord” (1 Samuel 22:12b).
“Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (1 Samuel 22:13).
Ahimelech is shocked by Saul’s outburst. How could Saul think his interactions with David could be termed ‘conspiring’ against the king? Ahimelech refused to be baited by Saul’s anger. He would remain in control no matter what Saul’s state. Ahimelech counters Saul with facts.
“And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father for your servant has known nothing all this time, much or little” (1 Samuel 22:14-15).
Saul’s face goes even redder with rage as he listens to Ahimelech extol David’s virtues. It is all Saul can do to keep himself from wrapping his hands around the man’s throat and choking the words before they emerge. Through gritted teeth Saul tells Ahimelech his fate.
“You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house” (1 Samuel 22:16).
Saul looks to the guard standing on his left and speaks directly to him.
“Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me” (1 Samuel 22:17a).
The guard was terrified! He was afraid of Saul but there was NO WAY he was going to kill a priest of the Lord. He stood as still as if he had been turned to stone and waited. He waited to see if Saul would order his death next. Saul didn’t. Instead, Saul began searching the faces of the rest of the servants gathered around him.
While Saul is searching for someone who will do his bidding, Ahimelech and the priests are waging their own battle. Should they flee? Should they beg for mercy? Or should they stand their ground? Would the Lord deliver them from Saul’s hand?
Saul sees nothing but stone faces when he looks to his servants until he spies the face of Doeg the Edomite. His face is registering great interest and eagerness to please. Saul knows he has finally found his man.
“You turn and strike the priests” (1 Samuel 22:18a).
Doeg had been waiting for a chance like this for years! This was his chance to prove his loyalty to Saul above everyone else’s. He moved without hesitation to fulfill the king’s command. Doeg was chief herdsmen for Saul and had no sword so he took one from a soldier standing near him. The soldier offered no assistance nor resistance to Doeg. The priests also offered neither to Doeg. Doeg began slashing and stabbing the priests assembled before Saul with the borrowed sword. The only sounds heard were the slap of steel against flesh, grunts of exertion and occasional cries of pain. Most of the priests refused to give Saul the satisfaction of hearing them cry out.
The priests internal battle had been won. They chose to stand fast. They reasoned that the soldiers surrounding them may not have lifted a hand against them but they wouldn’t have let them depart either after hearing Saul’s edict.
In the field of the tamarisk tree now lay more than eighty bodies. Each having received life ending blows from the hands of Doeg. He stood heaving from exhaustion afterwards. No one had assisted him or restrained him the entire time.
Saul had looked on with glee. He relished the loyalty Doeg exhibited for his king. After the deed was completed, Saul had another order.
“Now the city of Nob will meet the same fate. They have all assisted in this conspiracy with David and concealed his whereabouts from me. Leave nothing alive! Not man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep or donkey.”
This time Saul’s guards responded. They would not raise their hand against the priests but they would obey their king’s command in battle. Tired as he was, Doeg made certain to insert himself into the campaign and deliver more death to Saul’s enemy.
The people of Nob were not as resigned to their fate as their priests had been. Some fought back in whatever way they could. Some ran and some escaped. But in the entire city and all the line of Levi, only one priest made it out of Nob alive. Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, survived this night. He made his way to David.
Abiathar could still hear the screams of the city in his mind when he reached David. He wasn’t even sure he would be able to find David when he began his flight. Before leaving he had grabbed his ephod and sent a quick heart felt prayer heavenward. After that he simply ran where his feet and heart drew him.
The first thing Abiathar did upon reaching David’s camp was to call out for him. David needed to hear his account of the night immediately and from Abiathar’s own lips.
David came quickly when he heard the man calling out. The sentries had stopped him at the edge of the camp but his voice carried well within its confines.
“Saul has slain the priests of Nob and the whole town. He learned of your visit and the assistance that was granted to you. He claims we collaborated against him. And for this, all have lost their lives.”
David’s heart ached for the people of Nob. His shoulders slumped as the weight of guilt settled on him.
“I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house…” David shook his head in sorrow. He lifted a hand and put it on Abiathar’s shoulder. “…Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping” (1 Samuel 22:22-23).
Abiathar nodded his head in agreement. He would join David. He owed no more loyalty to Saul. Abiathar was welcomed into the camp and given all he would need to make this his new home.
(to be continued)
David is now the leader of over 400 people. They are society’s downtrodden. I wonder how many he would have today. With the upheaval in our country, it might be staggering. But we don’t have a “king” like Israel did.
What would have happened if Davide would have dealt with Doeg in Nob? David doesn’t kill indiscriminately, so I don’t know how he could have dealt with him. If he would have known the outcome, would he have done things differently? 20/20 hindsight.
Father God, thank You for Your stories. For letting me look a little deeper into them. I don’t know how David did all that he did. NOT a life that I would want to live. But, You haven’t called me to live David’s life. You have given me a purpose of my own. I pray I’m living up to Your expectations. Help me be as diligent in my path as David was in his.
