MPV Commentary

Read the modernized Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, aligned with each Bible book and chapter, in clear, updated English.

Currently viewing commentary for 1 Samuel 22

Sections for 1 Samuel 22
1Sa 22:1-8 David's Kindred and Others Resort to Him at Adullam.
1Sa 22:9-16 Doeg Accuses Ahimelech.
1Sa 22:17-19 Saul Commands to Kill the Priests.
1Sa 22:20-23 Abiathar Escapes and Flees after David.
1Sa 22:17-19 Saul Commands to Kill the Priests.

Saul Commands to Kill the Priests.

The footmen who stood around him, his personal bodyguards and runners (1Sa 8:11; 2Sa 15:1; 1Ki 1:5; 1Ki 14:28), held a significant position at court. However, they chose not to obey the king's order rather than stain their hands with the blood of God's servants.

A foreigner alone was willing to carry out this brutal and sacrilegious sentence (Ps 52:1-3). This fulfilled the doom pronounced on the house of Eli (1Sa 2:30-36).

Nob, a city inhabited by priests, was destroyed with the sword (19). Saul's atrocities against this city were intended to intimidate his subjects from helping or providing refuge to David. However, these actions ultimately harmed Saul's own interests by alienating the priesthood and turning off all good people in the kingdom.