Keraia
1 Samuel 22

1 Samuel 22:18

Saul Slays the Priests of Nob · 1 Samuel 22:6–23
Read 1 Samuel 22

Translations

Modern
So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you and kill the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he himself attacked the priests. And he killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.
Latin
Et ait rex ad Doëg: Convertere tu, et irrue in sacerdotes. Conversusque Doëg Idumæus, irruit in sacerdotes, et trucidavit in die illa octoginta quinque viros vestitos ephod lineo.

Original

Hebrew
English
So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

Notes

1 Samuel 22:18

  • Doeg the Edomite … struck down the priests: Doeg was not an Israelite, so he did not respect the holiness of priests chosen by God. He knew the priests were innocent, yet he still killed them. In this way, Doeg partly fulfilled God’s earlier judgment against the priestly family of Eli (see 1 Samuel 2:27–34 and 1 Kings 2:27).

  • men who wore the linen ephod: This incident shows how irrational Saul had become. Not even those in sacred office were safe.

1 Samuel 22:1–23

Saul’s character is clear here. He could not take revenge on David himself. Instead, Saul killed those he believed had helped David.

Theme notes and profiles

David Saul The Righteous Suffer

Events

Parallels

Psalm 52:1–9

People

Doeg: Edomite chief shepherd who betrayed David to Saul

Places

Edom: Descendants of Esau; enemy nation southeast of Israel

Glossary

Abiathar Ahijah Ahimelech Ahitub David Doeg Edom, Edomites Ephod (Garment) Nob Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Abiathar: Escapes to David from the Vengeance of Saul, Who Slew the Priests in the City of Nob Ahijah: A Priest in Shiloh, Probably Identical with Ahimelech, Mentioned in Killed Ahimelech: Also Called Ahia--A High Priest, During the Reign of David: Killed by the Command of Saul Doeg: Murdered Eighty-Five Priests Ephod: A Sacred Vestment Worn by the High Priest: An Inferior, Was Worn by the Ordinary Priests Holy Spirit: Saul Kings: Often Exercised Power Arbitrarily Malice: Saul Toward David Martyrdom: Ahimelech and his Fellow Priests Rulers: Wicked: Saul, Killing Ahimelech and the Priests The Edomites: Remarkable Persons of Doeg The Ephod: Worn by Ordinary Priests