DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 June 26
Doeg Killing Ahimelech: Fecamp Psalter (c. 1180)
French Miniaturist (fl., c. 1180)
Byzantine Style
Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: 1 Samuel 22 records the death of the High Priest Ahimelech and his family at the hand of Saul. The illumination above depicts this incident. [For a discussion of this event in comparison to the mention of it in Mark 2:26, see the following web page.]
Having escaped the hand of Achish the king of Gath, David fled to the cave Adullam; and his father and his household came to him. Also everyone who was in distress, in debt, or discontented -- about 400 in all, came to David; and he became their captain (1-2). From Adullam David visited the king of Moab (a relative of Ruth the Moabite, his ancestor) and secured his permission for his father and mother to stay with him until God delivered him. Later, the prophet Gad told him to leave Adullam and go to the land of Judah. David did so and came to the forest of Hareth (3-5). Meanwhile, Saul chided his servants for not disclosing to him that his son Jonathan had made a league with David and that David (he thought) was lying in wait for him. Doeg the Edomite then falsely accused Ahimelech of inquiring of the LORD for David; and he disclosed the fact that Ahimelech had given David provisions and the sword of Goliath (6-10). Saul then brought Ahimelech and all his household and accused him of conspiring with David against him. But Ahimelech protested that knew nothing of the trouble between Saul and David. He had helped David because David was faithful in the king's house and was the king's son in law. But Saul pronounced a death sentence on Ahimelech and his household and commanded his soldires to kill them. However, the soldiers refused. So Saul commanded Doeg to kill them and he killed 85 of them. And he then went to Nob, the city of the priests, and killed all the men, women, children, and livestock (11-19). But Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and told David. David said that he knew that Doeg would tell Saul; and he felt that he occasioned the death of all of Ahimelech's household. So he told Abiathar to stay with him; and he would safeguard him (20-23).
1 Samuel 22
1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
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 enquired 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 enquired 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 enquire 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.
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