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85 priests from the house of Eli were put to death as we knew they eventually would be (cf. 1 Sam 2:31-33), but the last one, Abiathar, escaped with David and would help him.

BibleGateway: 1 Samuel 22:6-23

ESV Text: 1 Samuel 22:6-23


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:54 and ends at about 4:28

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     6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) 7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; 8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. 13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? 15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. 16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house. 17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

     20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD’S priests. 22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house. 23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 607 :
Day of Wrath, O Day of Mourning

Hymnary.org — Organ Audio

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1. Day of wrath, O day of mourning! 
See fulfilled the Prophet’s warning, 
Heaven and earth in ashes burning. 

2. Oh, what fear man’s bosom rendeth 
When from heav’n the Judge descendeth 
On whose sentence all dependeth! 

3. Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth, 
Thro’ earth’s sepulchers it ringeth, 
All before the throne it bringeth. 

4. Death is struck and nature quaking; 
All creation is awaking, 
To its Judge an answer making. 

5. Lo, the book, exactly worded, 
Wherein all hath been recorded; 
Thence shall judgment be awarded. 

6. When the Judge His seat attaineth 
And each hidden deed arraigneth, 
Nothing unavenged remaineth. 

7. What shall I, frail man, be pleading? 
Who for me be interceding 
When the just are mercy needing? 

8. King of majesty tremendous, 
Who dost free salvation send us, 
Fount of pity, then befriend us. 

9. Think, good Jesus, my salvation 
Caused Thy wondrous incarnation; 
Leave me not to reprobation! 

10. Faint and weary Thou hast sought me, 
On the cross of suffering bought me; 
Shall such grace be vainly brought me? 

11. Righteous Judge, for sin’s pollution 
Grant Thy gift of absolution 
Ere that day of retribution! 

12. Guilty, now I pour my moaning, 
All my shame with anguish owning: 
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning! 

13. From that sinful woman shriven, 
From the dying thief forgiven, 
Thou to me a hope hast given. 

14. Worthless are my prayers and sighing; 
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, 
Rescue me from fires undying. 

15. With Thy favored sheep, oh, place me! 
Nor among the goats abase me, 
But to Thy right hand upraise me. 

16. While the wicked are confounded, 
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, 
Call me, with Thy saints surrounded. 

17. Low I kneel with heart-submission, 
See, like ashes, my contrition; 
Help me in my last condition! 

18. Day of sorrow, day of weeping, 
When, in dust no longer sleeping, 
Man awakes in Thy dread keeping! 

19. To the rest Thou didst prepare me 
On Thy cross; O Christ, upbear me! 
Spare, O God, in mercy spare me!