Read 1 Samuel 22 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
22:1-4 {s} David became captain of the outlaws, settled his parents with the king of Moab
22:5 {s} Gad the prophet with David, warned him to depart for Judah
22:6-8 {s} Saul went to his own tribe to find someone who will be loyal to him against David
22:9-11 {s} Doeg the Edomite tattled on David and Ahimelech, so that the priests of Nob were called before Saul
22:12-13 {s} Saul: Why have you conspired against me to help David
22:14-17 {s} Ahimelech denied the accusation, but Saul ordered his death and all his father’s house; however, no Israelite would comply
22:18-23 {s} Doeg slew 85 priests of Nob and destroyed the entire city, but Abiathar the son of Ahimelech escaped to David
1 Samuel 22:1-23 Chiastic Structure:
The Scripture makes a Comparison and Contrast between Saul, the rejected king, and David, the anointed king: Saul slew the priests of YHVH, even though no crime had been proven against them, while David sheltered the lone priest who had escaped the slaughter.
Moreover, in 1 Samuel 21, the Chiastic Structure set neon flashing lights around Doeg the Edomite, making his presence at the house of God the central axis. In today’s chapter, he slew the priests of YHVH and destroyed their city, including women, children, and livestock. Let’s recall that Edomites were descended from Esau, while Israelites were descended from Jacob. Of the two brothers, God says,
“Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated.” Mal 1:2-3
Isn’t it interesting that the Israelites, descended from Jacob, would not raise their hand against YHVH’s priests even when commanded by the king, but Doeg the Edomite, descended from Esau, did not hesitate to do so. I don’t believe God to be partial; however, because Esau disdained YHVH, YHVH disdained him in turn. And we see Esau’s disdain for YHVH express itself through his descendant Doeg.
David wrote Psalm 52 in response to learning of the Edomite’s slaughter of the priests of Nob.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Who are the children of Israel? – Christine Miller
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