1
And Daviyd went from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And his brothers and all the house of his father heard, and they went down to him there.
2
And every ish who was in distress, and every ish who had a creditor, and every ish bitter of being, gathered themselves to him, and he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred ish.
3
And Daviyd went from there to Mitzpeh of Moav and said to the king of Moav, “Please let my father and my mother go out with you until I know what Elohim will do for me.”
4
And he brought them before the face of the king of Moav, and they dwelt with him all the days that Daviyd was in the stronghold.
5
And Gad the prophet said to Daviyd, “Do not dwell in the stronghold. Go and enter the land of Yehudah.” And Daviyd went and came to the forest of Cheret.
6
And Shaul heard that Daviyd and the men who were with him had been discovered. And Shaul was sitting in Givah beneath the tamarisk upon the height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing around him.
7
And Shaul said to his servants who stood around him, “Listen now, sons of Binyamin! Will the son of Yishai also give to all of you fields and vineyards? Will he appoint all of you as commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?
8
For all of you have conspired against me, and there is none who uncovers my ear when my son cuts a covenant with the son of Yishai. And there is none among you who grieves for me or uncovers my ear that my son has raised up my servant against me to lie in wait, as this day.”
9
And Doeg the Edomi, who was standing over the servants of Shaul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Yishai coming to Nov, to Achimelekh son of Achituv.
10
And he asked of Yahuah for him and gave him provisions, and the sword of Golyat the Pelishti he gave to him.”
11
And the king sent to call Achimelekh the kohen, son of Achituv, and all the house of his father, the kohenim who were in Nov. And all of them came to the king.
12
And Shaul said, “Listen now, son of Achituv.” And he said, “Here I am, my master.”
13
And Shaul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Yishai, by giving him bread and a sword, and asking of Elohim for him, that he should rise against me to lie in wait, as this day?”
14
And Achimelekh answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as Daviyd, son-in-law of the king, who turns aside at your command and is honored in your house?
15
Did I begin this day to ask of Elohim for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king place a thing against his servant or against all the house of my father, for your servant knew nothing of all this matter, small or great.”
16
And the king said, “Dying, you shall surely die, Achimelekh, you and all the house of your father.”
17
And the king said to the runners who stood around him, “Turn and put to death the kohenim of Yahuah, because their hand also is with Daviyd, and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not uncover my ear.” But the servants of the king were not willing to stretch out their hand to fall upon the kohenim of Yahuah.
18
And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and fall upon the kohenim.” And Doeg the Edomi turned and fell upon the kohenim, and he put to death on that day eighty-five ish who bore the linen ephod.
19
And Nov, the city of the kohenim, he struck with the mouth of the sword, from ish to ishah, from young child to nursing child, and ox, and donkey, and sheep, with the mouth of the sword.
20
And one son of Achimelekh son of Achituv escaped, and his name was Evyatar, and he fled after Daviyd.
21
And Evyatar declared to Daviyd that Shaul had put to death the kohenim of Yahuah.
22
And Daviyd said to Evyatar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomi was there, that declaring, he would surely declare it to Shaul. I have caused the death of every being of the house of your father.
23
Dwell with me. Do not fear, for the one who seeks my being seeks your being. But with me you shall be under guard.”