Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

David therefore departed from there and escaped to Adullam's cave. His brothers and all his father's household heard about it and joined him there. A large group of people followed him – those in distress, those in debt, and those discontented – until they numbered around four hundred men.

At that time David went to Mizpeh of Moab and asked the king if he could bring his father and mother to live with them until God's plan became clear. The king agreed, and David brought them to stay with him as long as he was in the stronghold.

However, the prophet Gad urged David not to remain in the stronghold but instead go into Judah's territory. So David left and went into the forest of Hareth.

When Saul heard that David had been spotted and was hiding with his men, he sat under a tamarisk tree in Gibeah, Ramah, surrounded by all his attendants. He asked his Benjamite servants, "Will the son of Jesse give you fields and vineyards? Will he make each of you captains over thousands or hundreds?" Saul continued, "You've conspired against me; none of you care about my well-being or inform me that my son has joined forces with the son of Jesse. You haven't expressed any regret for his actions or warned me about his deceitful plans."

Doeg, an Edomite who was in charge of Saul's servants, replied, "I saw the son of Jesse visiting Nob, where Ahimelech the priest served." Doeg continued, "He asked the Lord on David's behalf and gave him food and Goliath's sword. Then the king summoned Ahimelech to come before him."

The king said to Ahimelech, "Why have you conspired against me? Why did you give bread and a sword to my enemy?" But Ahimelech answered, "Who among your servants is as faithful as David, your son-in-law, who serves in your household?" He continued, "I've never asked the Lord on his behalf. Let the king not hold anything against me or my family."

The king responded, "You and your entire household will surely die, Ahimelech." The king ordered his guards to attack the priests of the Lord because they were supporting David. However, the guards refused to harm them.

Saul then turned to Doeg and said, "Attack the priests of the Lord!" But the king's attendants still hesitated. So Doeg, an Edomite, carried out the king's order and killed eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod that day. He destroyed Nob, including its people – men, women, children, nursing babies, and all their livestock.

One of Ahimelech's sons, Abiathar, managed to escape and flee with David. When he reached David, Abiathar informed him about the slaughter of the Lord's priests by Saul.

David knew that Doeg would report his involvement in the massacre to Saul. So he told Abiathar, "Don't be afraid; whoever seeks my life will also seek yours. But you'll be safe with me."