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SAUL SLAYS THE PRIESTS OF NOB

I Samuel 22:11-23

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    THE CALL TO AHIMELECH (I Sam. 22:11)

ii.                  THE CHARGE AGAINST AHIMELECH (I Sam. 22:12-13)

iii.                THE COUNTER BY AHIMELECH (I Sam. 22:14-15)

iv.                THE CONDEMNATION OF AHIMELECH (I Sam. 22:16-19)

v.                  THE CIRCUMVENTION BY AHIMELECH’S SON (I Sam. 22:20-23)

 

2.      Who did Saul assemble together in Nob? (I Sam. 22:11)

 

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob:  and they came all of them to the king.

 

A.    Ahimelech the priest, all his father’s house, the priests were that in Nob

 

B.      NOTE:  We are only told that David interacted with Ahimelech.  Why would Saul gather all of the priests together? 

 

3.      How did Ahimelech answer the call of the king? (I Sam. 22:12)

 

And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Abitub.  And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

 

A.    He answered the king immediately.

He answered the king with his presence.

He answered the king with respect, “my lord.”

 

4.      T – F    Saul charged Ahimelech of conspiring against him. (I Sam. 22:13)

 

And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse…

 

A.    True

 

B.      Conspired:

1.      This is the same word that Saul used when speaking to the Benjamites (I Sam. 22:8).

2.      Strong (7194):  to tie

3.      BDB:  to bind, to tie, to bind together, league together, conspire

 

C.     Can you imagine how Ahimelech was feeling at this time?

1.      David had come unannounced, bringing fear to Ahimelech.

2.      Now, he was standing in the presence of the king himself.

3.      Then, he heard the accusation of conspiring against the king.

 

5.      T – F    Saul mentioned all three things that had been reported by Doeg. (I Sam. 22:13)

 

…in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

 

A.    True

B.      Again, there is no doubt about the bread and the sword being given to David.  However, we are not informed in the previous verses that Ahimelech inquired of God for David.

 

6.      What was Ahimelech’s first response to the charge brought by Saul (I Sam. 22:14)

 

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honorable in thine house.

 

A.    Ahimelech reminds Saul of the position and character of David.

 

B.      He notes four things about David.

1.      He is faithful among all thy servants.

2.      He is the king’s son in law.

3.      He goeth at thy bidding (an alternative translation is that David had access to the king’s private audience and counsel).

4.      He is honorable in Saul’s house.

 

C.     If there had been no antagonism between Saul and David, Ahimelech would have been honorable in doing what he did.  In fact, had he not helped David, he would have been in deep trouble.

 

7.      T – F    Ahimelech denied that he had inquired of the Lord for David. (I Sam. 22:15)

 

Did I then begin to inquire of God for him?  Be it far from me…

 

A.    True

 

B.      Had Ahimelech inquired of God on David’s behalf, he would have probably found out more about the situation between David and Saul. 

 

8.      Ahimelech said:  “…let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father” (I Sam. 22:15).

 

9.      Define:  impute (I Sam. 22:15)

 

A.    Strong (7760):  to put

 

B.      BDB:  to put, establish, ordain, constitute determine

 

10.  T – F    Ahimelech admitted that there were some in his house who knew of the problem

between the king and David (I Sam. 22:15).

 

…nor to all the house of my father, for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

 

A.    False

 

11.  What was the king’s sentence against Ahimelech? (I Sam. 22:16)

 

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, and all thy father’s house.

 

A.    Apparently, Saul did not believe Ahimelech.

 

B.      His anger toward David was so great that even the appearance of assistance meant the death sentence to all who rendered such.

 

C.     Saul made an example of Ahimelech and his father’s house.

1.      Remember, these are priests of God.

2.      The point:  Anyone who even hints at assisting David will be put to death.

 

12.  Who did Saul command to slay the priests of the Lord? (I Sam. 22:17)

 

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priest of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me.

 

A.    He commanded his footmen to slay the priests.

 

B.      The word “footmen” means to run.  These were the runners, the posts.  They surrounded the king and carried out his bidding.

 

13.  T – F    The footmen slew the priests of Nob with haste and with a great slaughter. (I Sam. 22:17)

 

…But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.

 

A.    False. 

 

B.      K&D:  “This sentence was so cruel, and so nearly bordering upon madness, that the halberdiers would not carry it out, but refused to lay hands upon “the priests of Jehovah’’ (e-sword).

 

C.     The text does not indicate how Saul reacted to this defiance.  He was probably surprised, concerned, and deeply agitated.

 

14.  Who did Saul command to slay the priests when the footmen refused? (I Sam. 22:18)

 

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests…

 

A.    Doeg

 

15.  How many priests did Doeg kill that day? (I Sam. 22:18)

 

And Doeg the Edmonite turned, and fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear the linen ephod.

 

A.    Doeg killed 85 priests

 

B.      The priest did not have a sword in the city.  Thus, they could not protect themselves.  The only one they did have had been given to David.

 

C.     LESSON:  Evil rulers always have evil men who will do their cruel bidding.

 

16.  Who else was smitten that day in the city of Nob? (I Sam. 22:19)

 

And Nob, the city of priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

A.    Men and woman, children and sucklings, oxen, asses, and sheep.  Can you imagine the horror in the city that day?  The cries, the screams, the shrieks would have pierced the ears of those present.  Justice was not carried out.  It was complete revenge.

 

B.      The complete annihilation of those in the city would send a very strong message to any man or woman who would think about lending support to the fugitive David.

 

17.  Who escaped from the city? (I Sam. 22:20)

 

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar escaped…

 

A.    Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech

 

B.      Meaning:  “father of abundance” or “my father is great”

 

18.  Where did he go? (I Sam. 22:20)

 

…and fled after David.

 

A.    He sought to find David.

 

B.      There were only two options open those in the nation.  They would serve Saul, or, they could serve David.  There was really only one choice for Abiathar.  That was David.

 

19.  T – F    Abiathar hid the slaughter from David. (I Sam. 22:21)

 

And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord’s priests.

 

A.    False

 

20.  T – F    David knew Doeg would tell Saul about his being in Nob. (I Sam. 22:22)

 

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul…

 

A.    True

 

B.      Remember, David had served in the courts of Saul.  He had a good understanding of men of the servant of Saul.  He probably had contact with Doeg in the past. 

 

21.  “…I have occasioned  the death of all the persons of thy father’s house” (I Sam. 22:22).

 

A.    The word “occasioned” means “to be the cause.”

 

B.      Even though he never intended to bring the death of the priests, it was his visit to the city that was part of the occasion of their execution.  David was the kind of man who could assume his portion of the responsibility.  This is the mark of a good leader. 

 

C.     LESSON:  We do not live in a vacuum.  All that we do can have an impact, negatively and positively, on others. 

 

 

22.  What did David instruct Abiathar to do? (I Sam. 22:23)

 

Abide thou with me, fear not…

 

A.    David exhorted Abiathar to remain with him. 

 

B.      David had a solid group of men who would be able to protect the priest’s son.

 

23.  T – F    David assured Abiathar that he was in safe keeping with him and his man (I Sam.

22:23).

 

…for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life:  but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

 

A.    True

 

24.  Define:  safeguard (I Sam. 22:23)

 

A.    Strong (4931):  watch, the act of custody, sentry

 

B.      BDB:  guard, watch, keeping custody, preserving

 

C.     He would officially join David and his men in Keilah (I Sam. 23:6)

 

D.    Once he was with David, he served him faithfully from that day forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

David in Keilah

I Samuel 23:1-13

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 23:1-5

ii.                  I SAMUEL 23:6

iii.                I SAMUEL 23:7-8

iv.                I SAMUEL 23:9-12

v.                  I SAMEUL 23:13

 

2.      What news did David receive concerning Keilah? (I Sam. 23:1)

 

3.      What were the Philistines robbing? (I Sam. 23:1)

 

4.      Upon hearing this news, what did David do? (I Sam. 23:2)

 

5.      What was the Lord’s response? (I Sam. 23:2)

 

6.      What was the emotional response of David’s men about saving Keilah? (I Sam. 23:3)

 

7.      When his men balked, what did David do? (I Sam. 23:4)

 

8.      What did the Lord say unto him? (I Sam. 23:4)

 

9.      T – F    David lost the battle against the Philistines. (I Sam. 23:5)

 

10.  What animals did David’s men take from the battle? (I Sam. 23:5)

 

11.  How is the slaughter described? (I Sam. 23:5)

 

12.  “So David ______________________ the inhabitants of Keilah” (I Sam. 23:5).

 

13.  Who came to David at Keilah? (I Sam. 23:6)

 

14.  What did he have in his hand? (I Sam. 23:6)

 

15.  When Saul heard David was in Keilah, he said:  “__________ hath delivered him into mine hand” (I Sam. 23:7).

 

16.  Why did Saul believe David had been delivered into his hand? (I Sam. 23:7)

 

17.  T – F    Saul called all of the people to war…to besiege David and his men (I Sam. 23:8).

 

18.  What did David know Saul practiced against him? (I Sam. 23:9)

 

19.  Define:  mischief (I Sam. 23:9)

 

20.  What did David ask Abiathar to bring to him? (I Sam. 23:9)

21.  What had David heard about Saul? (I Sam. 23:10)

 

22.  What was the first question God answered of David’s two questions? (I Sam. 23:11)

 

23.  T – F    God did not answer David’s second question. (I Sam. 23:12)

 

24.  How many men did David now have with him? (I Sam. 23:13)

 

25.  T – F    David and his men made themselves ready to do battle with Saul. (I Sam. 23:13)

 

26.  T – F    When Saul heard David escaped from Keilah, he destroyed the town. (I Sam. 23:13)