1 David left from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there.

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

2 All those who were in distress, in debt, or bitter in spirit gathered to him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

3 From there, David went to Mizpeh in Moab and said to the king of Moab, 'Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.'

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

5 The prophet Gad said to David, 'Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.' So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. Saul was seated in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the hill, spear in hand, with all his servants standing around him.

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)

7 Saul said to his servants who stood around him, 'Listen now, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?'

Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

8 'You have all conspired against me! No one reveals to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you feels sorry for me or tells me that my son has stirred up my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.'

That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's servants, answered, 'I saw the son of Jesse come to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.'

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

11 The king sent for Ahimelech the priest, son of Ahitub, and his entire family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king.

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.

12 Saul said, 'Listen now, son of Ahitub!' And he replied, 'Here I am, my lord.'

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

13 Saul said to him, 'Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has risen against me to lie in wait, as he does today?'

And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

14 Ahimelech answered the king, 'Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and highly respected in your house?'

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 honourable in thine house?

15 Was this the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse me or any of my father's family, for your servant knows nothing about this whole affair—whether great or small.'

Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

16 The king said, 'You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and your whole family.'

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

17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, 'Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they are allies of David. They knew he was fleeing but didn’t inform me.' But the king's servants were unwilling to raise their hands to strike the priests of the Lord.

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

18 The king then commanded Doeg, 'Turn and strike down the priests!' So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

19 He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, killing its men and women, children and infants, and also its oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

And Nob, the city of the 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.

20 But one son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar.

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.

And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.

22 David said to Abiathar, 'That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family.'

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.

23 Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The one who seeks my life is seeking yours as well. You will be safe with me.

Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.