David Hides From Saul in The Cave of Adullham
January 3, 2023
Commentary
David’s next move is to the cave of Adulham, which is about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem and 10 miles northeast of Gath (v.1). David wrote Psalm 34 while he was here at Adullam’s Cave. On the run from mad king Saul, hold up in a cave with all these needy men coming to him. I’m sure he felt vulnerable many times, but he strengthened himself in God.
Word began to spread as to where David was hiding and soon his family joined him (v.1). Then those in distress, in debt or discontented joined David until there were over 400 men and their families (v.2). These people were outcasts and could only improve their lot by helping David. It is difficult enough to build an army out of good men but for David to build one out of this group of outlaws shows what a great leader he was. Sensing a threat to his own family, David takes them to Moab to live among the kinfolk of his great grandmother, Ruth (vv. 3-4). He takes the rest of the group to the forest of Hereth in Judah (v. 5), perhaps to be near those he had been anointed, by.
When Saul finds out about David’s return to Judah, he becomes paranoid and imagines that even his loyal followers are against him (vv. 6-8). To make matters worse, Doeg, the Edomite, who had been placed over the servants of Saul, tells him about seeing David talking to Ahimelech, the high priest (v. 9), and how David received food and a weapon from him (v. 10). Saul becomes very angry and orders all of the priests to be killed. Only Doeg was willing to carry out this insane command to kill 85 innocent priests (v. 18)). Abiathar was the only priest that was able to escape with the ephod (23:6), a priestly garment containing the Urim and Thummim, which were two objects David later used to consult God. Saul destroyed Israel’s priesthood, but when David became king he installed Abiathar who remained in that position during David’s entire reign.
Sometimes God allows evil to develop to teach us not to let evil systems flourish. God does not promise to protect good people from evil but He does promise that ultimately evil will be abolished.
Application
The decisions I make today will effect what I do tomorrow. The longer I continue to make wrong decisions, the more my heart will harden like Saul’s did. The more I make right decisions, the more my heart will soften like David’s did. To make right decisions I need the mind of the Lord.
1 Samuel 22:1– 23 (NET)
1 So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s family learned about it, they went down there to him. 2 All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. He had about 400 men with him.
3 Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” 4 So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time that David was in the stronghold. 5 Then Gad the prophet said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
6 But Saul found out the whereabouts of David and the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at an elevated location with his spear in hand and all his servants stationed around him. 7 Saul said to his servants, “Listen up, you Benjaminites! Is Jesse’s son giving fields and vineyards to all of you? Or is he making all of you commanders and officers? 8 For all of you have conspired against me! No one informs me when my own son makes an agreement with the son of Jesse. Not one of you feels sorry for me or informs me that my own son has commissioned my own servant to hide in ambush against me, as is the case today!”
9 But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with the servants of Saul, replied, “I saw this son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 He inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 Then the king arranged for a meeting with the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priests of his father’s house who were at Nob. They all came to the king. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He replied, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!”
14 Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is faithful like David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the leader of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse his servant or any of my father’s house, for your servant is not aware of all this—not in whole or in part!”
16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!” 17 Then the king said to the messengers who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm the priests of the Lord.
18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 As for Nob, the city of the priests, Doeg struck down men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep—all with the sword.
20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I am guilty of all the deaths in your father’s house. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid. Whoever seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me.”