22:9 But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with the servants of Saul, replied, “I saw this son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 22:10 He inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
22:11 Then the king arranged for a meeting with the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priests of his father’s house who were at Nob. They all came to the king. 22:12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He replied, “Here I am, my lord.” 22:13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave 4 him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes 5 me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!”
22:14 Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is faithful like David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the leader of your bodyguard, and honored in your house! 22:15 Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse 6 his servant or any of my father’s house. For your servant is not aware of all this – not in whole or in part!” 7
22:16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house! 22:17 Then the king said to the messengers 8 who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided 9 with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm 10 the priests of the Lord.
22:18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five 11 men who wore the linen ephod. 22:19 As for Nob, the city of the priests, he struck down with the sword men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep – all with the sword.
1 tc The MT has “to all of you.” If this reading is correct, we have here an example of a prepositional phrase functioning as the equivalent of a dative of advantage, which is not impossible from a grammatical point of view. However, the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate all have “and.” A conjunction rather than a preposition should probably be read on the front of this phrase.
2 tn Heb “officers of a thousand and officers of a hundred.”
3 tn Heb “uncovers my ear.”
4 tn Heb “by giving.”
5 tn Heb “rises up against.”
6 tn Heb “set a matter against.”
7 tn Heb “small or great.”
8 tn Heb “runners.”
9 tn Heb “their hand is.”
10 tn Heb “to extend their hand to harm.”
11 tc The number is confused in the Greek