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1 Samuel 22: Saul and the Priests

David escaped to the cave of Adullam, and his family and about four hundred men in distress gathered to him. He took his parents to the king of Moab for safety. Saul accused his servants of plotting against him. Doeg the Edomite told Saul that Ahimelech had helped David. Saul ordered the priests killed, and Doeg killed them. Only Abiathar escaped to David, who told him to stay, for he would be safe with him.

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Read 1 Samuel 22

World English Bible · 23 verses

  1. 1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to Adullam’s cave. When his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them. There were with him about four hundred men.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come out to you, until I know what God will do for me.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 He brought them before the king of Moab; and they lived with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 The prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Depart, and go into the land of Judah.” Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 Saul heard that David was discovered, with the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 Is that why all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a treaty with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 He inquired of Yahweh for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob; and they all came to the king.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 Saul said to him, “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, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your body guard, and honored in your house?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me! Don’t let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 The king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 The king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled and didn’t disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king wouldn’t put out their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 The king said to Doeg, “Turn and attack the priests!” Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  19. 19 He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword—both men and women, children and nursing babies, and cattle, donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  20. 20 One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  21. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh’s priests.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  22. 22 David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  23. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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1 Samuel 22 · Preschool

Safe With David

Name Date

Color David in the cave with his helpers!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. You will be safe with me.”

1 Samuel 22:23 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: David told Abiathar, You will be safe with me. God keeps us safe too. When we are scared, we can run to God.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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