# 1 Samuel Chapter 22
---
## Summary
David departs to the cave of Adullam and gathers the distressed, the debtors and the bitter and he commands over them. He travels to Moab and requests asylum for his family but himself returns to Judah. Saul hears that David has been discovered and given resources by Ahimelech the priest and feels betrayed by his servants and the priesthood. 

Saul challenges his servants for their failure to report and calls Ahimelech to him to enquire why he has served the enemies of the state and Ahimelech points out that no one is as faithful as David the kings son in law and captain. Saul then orders the death of the priest which the kings servants refuse but Doeg the Edomite agrees. The city of Nob is then put to the sword.

## Meditatio
Once again we are privy to an escalation. We observe that Saul's paranoia has reached new heights where he perceives threats all around him. Not only does he wrongly assume Davids intention to dethrone him but he essentially accuses his entire court of conspiring with him. When he discovers clear evidence of support being provided to David he takes drastic action to set an example.

This is a particularly dark passage because Ahimelech the priest is clear on just how far Saul has fallen and yet doesn't even realise it. He points out that there is no one more faithful than David or as seemingly highly esteemed by the King.[^1] He go so far as to say he had no idea Saul was angry at him.

What is most disturbing is the coldness of Saul's reply in verse 16. `You shall surely die, AHimelech, you and all your father's house`. We know that David was less than candid with Ahimelech about his relationship with the King. As such you can imagine the scene and just how 'thrown under the bus' Ahimelech would be feeling right now.

David is often portrayed as the warrior King, and a great example, but here we see that David is not attracting glory but contempt and wrath from the King and also things that are less desirable. There are debtors, those who are distraught or seeking revenge, this is hardly the ideal militia with which to defend one's own life.

Returning to the point, Saul's action is not just the elimination of one man for a mistake but the eradication of his entire lineage. He has no hope and no future and probably a somewhat limited idea about what was actually going on. Saul's heart is so set against David that all are conspiring and examples must be made of those who give aid to the kings enemies.

[^1]: See [1 Samuel 22:14-16](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+22%3A14-16&version=ESV)