1 And David departed from there {misham: from there} and escaped to the cave of Adullam, and when his brothers and all the household {beit: family group} of his father heard, they went down to him there
2 And all the distressed {matsok: burdened by hardship} men and all the men who had debts and all the bitter-souled men gathered to him; and he became their captain {sar: military commander}, and about four hundred men were with him.
3 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let {yetse-na: polite entreaty} my father and my mother stay with you until I know what God {Elohim, Providence Planner} will do for me.”
4 And he led them to the presence {penei: royal audience} of the king of Moab, and they lived with him all the days {yemei: measured periods} that David was in the stronghold.
5 Gad the prophet said to David, “Do not dwell in the stronghold {metsudah: fortified refuge}; depart and go to the land of Judah,” and David departed and went to the forest of Chareth {Chareth: wooded region}.
6 And Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered, and Saul was seated at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree {eshel: tall shade tree} on the height, with his spear {chanit: weapon of authority} in his hand, and all his servants standing around him.
7 And Saul said to his servants who were standing before him, “Hear now, sons of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son {ben-yishai: David’s lineage} give all of you fields and vineyards, and will he set you as commanders of thousands {alafim: thousand-man units} and commanders of hundreds?”
8 Because you have conspired {keshartem: plotted secretly} against me, and no one reveals to my ear that my son has made a covenant {bikhrat: solemn bond} with the son of Jesse, and none of you cares for me or alerts me that my son has set my servant against me to lie in wait today.
9 And Doeg the Edomite {ha’adomi: descendant of Edom}, who was stationed over the servants of Saul, answered and said, “I saw the son of Jesse {ben-yishay: Jesse’s household line} coming to Nob to Ahimelech, son of Ahitub.”
10 And he inquired of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Counselor} on his behalf, gave him provisions {tseidah: necessary supplies}, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11 And the king {melek: royal authority} sent to summon Ahimelech son of Ahitub the priest, and all the house of his father, the priests {kohanim: temple ministers} who were at Nob; and they all came to the king.
12 And Saul said, “Listen {shema-na: polite entreaty}, son of Ahitub,” and he replied, “Here I am, my lord {adoni: authoritative address}.”
13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword and by inquiring of God {Elohim, Source of guidance} for him, so that he rises up against me to lie in ambush {orev: secret attack} as on this very day?”
14 And Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is like David {kedavid: provenly faithful}, the king’s son-in-law, captain over your bodyguard {sar: royal guard commander}, and honored in your house?”
15 Today have I begun to inquire of God {Elohim, Divine Arbiter} for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king place {sam: assign responsibility} any matter against his servant or against the house of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all of this matter, whether small or great.
16 But the king {melekh: royal authority} said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all the house of your father {beit avikha: paternal household}.”
17 And the king said to the runners standing before him, “Turn and put to death the priests of the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, for their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not report it to my ear {oznai: notify me}.” But the servants of the king were not willing to send forth their hand to strike the priests of the LORD.
18 And the king said to Doeg, “Turn and strike the priests.” Then Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and on that day he killed eighty-five men {ish: male persons} wearing a linen ephod {ephod: priestly vestment}.
19 And he struck down Nob, the city of the priests {kōhănîm: temple ministers}, by the edge of the sword—from man to woman, from infant to nursing baby {yōneq: dependent child}—and ox, donkey, and sheep, by the edge of the sword.
20 But one son of Ahimelech {ahimelech: priest of Nob}, son of Ahitub, escaped; his name was Abiathar, and he fled after David {david: the pursued servant of the LORD}.
21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests {kohanei: authorized leaders} of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}.
22 And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that very day {bayyōm: time of the event}, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I myself {anokhi: personal responsibility} have caused the death of every person in your father’s house.”
23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for the one who seeks {yevakesh: pursues earnestly} my soul is also seeking your soul. You will be under my safeguard {mishmeret: secure protection}.