6 One day, Sha’ul was sitting holding his spear underneath the tamarisk tree on a hill near Gibeah with all his servants stationed around him, when he heard where David and his men were, 7 and he accused his servants, “Listen now, you Benyamites. Will Yishay’s son also[fn] give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8 Yes, all of you have conspired against me. Not one of you informed me when my own son made a pact with that son of Yishay. And none of you took my side or even informed me that my son has encouraged my servant to lie in ambush against me as he is today!”

9 Now Doeg the Edomite was stationed there with Sha’ul’s servants, and he spoke up, “I saw Yishay’s son go to Nob and talk with Ahimelek the priest,[ref] 10 and the priest asked Yahweh for directions for him, and gave him food and Goliat’s sword.”

11 Then the king summoned Ahitub’s son Ahimelek and all his relatives who were priests to Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 “Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Sha’ul.

“Go ahead my master,” answered Ahimelek.

13 “Why have you all conspired against me?” asked Sha’ul. “You gave bread to Yishay’s son, and a sword, and you asked guidance from God for him, so now he’s risen up against me—lying in ambush this very day?”

14 “Isn’t David one of your most faithful servants?” Ahimelek answered the king. “He’s the king’s son-in-law and commander over your guards, and isn’t he honoured in your house? 15 Did I begin to inquire for him from God today? Far be it from me! Don’t let the king accuse his servant or any of my father’s household, because your servant doesn’t know about any of this—nothing at all.”

16 “For certain, Ahimelek,” the king declared. “you and all your father’s household will certainly die for that!” 17 Then the king commanded his messengers who were stationed beside him, “Turn around and put Yahweh’s priests to death because they’ve taken David’s side. And because they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t inform me.” But the king’s servants weren’t willing to attack Yahweh’s priests. 18 So the king commanded Doeg the Edomite, “You turn around and attack the priests.” So Doeg turned and he himself attacked the priests. He killed eighty-five men that day who wore sacred linen aprons. 19 Also at Nob (the city of priests) he killed men and women with his sword, children and infants, cattle, donkeys, and sheep.

20 But one of Ahimelek’s sons was able to slip away. His name was Abiatar and he fled to join David, 21 and informed him that Sha’ul had commanded Doeg to kill Yahweh’s priests. 22 “I knew on that day,” David responded, “when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would probably tell Sha’ul. It’s my fault that your father and all his family were murdered. 23 Stick with me—don’t be afraid, because the one who wants to kill me would kill you as well. You’ll be safe with me.”