1 Samuel 22:19

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

Translations

Modern
He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the mouth of the sword, from men and to women, from children and to nursing infants, and oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, with the mouth of the sword.
Latin
Nobe autem civitatem sacerdotum percussit in ore gladii, viros et mulieres, et parvulos et lactentes, bovemque, et asinum, et ovem in ore gladii.

Original

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

Notes

Saul had been unwilling to carry out God’s orders to destroy completely the Amalekites and their possessions (1 Samuel 15:3, 9). Yet now, in his rage, he did not hesitate to destroy the priests' families and their possessions (see Proverbs 14:29; 16:14; 27:4).

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

Places

Nob: A city of priests near Jerusalem

Glossary

Abiathar Ahijah Ahimelech Ahitub David Doeg Edom, Edomites 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 Holy Spirit: Saul Martyrdom: Ahimelech and his Fellow Priests Nob: Called |The City of the Priests| Rulers: Wicked: Saul, Killing Ahimelech and the Priests