⁴ So he left them with the king of Moab,^(A) and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

⁵ But the prophet Gad^(B) said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.^(C)

Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

⁶ Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated,^(D) spear in hand, under the tamarisk^(E) tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. ⁷ He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders^(F) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? ⁸ Is that why you have all conspired^(G) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant^(H) with the son of Jesse.^(I) None of you is concerned^(J) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

⁹ But Doeg^(K) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub^(L) at Nob.^{(M) 10} Ahimelek inquired^(N) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions^(O) and the sword^(P) of Goliath the Philistine.”

¹¹ Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king.

²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,^(A) named Abiathar,^(B) escaped and fled to join David.^(C)