1. David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his family heard about it, they came down to him there.
2. He was joined by all those in difficulties or in debt, or embittered, and became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
3. From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Let my father and mother stay with you, until I learn what God will do for me.”
4. He left them with the king of Moab; they stayed with him as long as David remained in the stronghold.
5. But Gad the prophet said to David: “Do not remain in the stronghold! Leave! Go to the land of Judah.” And so David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
6. Now Saul heard that David and his men had been located. At the time he was sitting in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree on the high place, holding his spear, while all his servants stood by him.
7. So he said to them: “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he appoint any of you an officer over a thousand or a hundred men?
8. Is that why you have all conspired against me? Why no one told me that my son had made a pact with the son of Jesse? None of you has shown compassion for me by revealing to me that my son has incited my servant to ambush me, as is the case today.”
9. Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officers, spoke up: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, in Nob.
10. He consulted the Lord for him, furnished him with provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11. So the king summoned Ahimelech the priest, son of Ahitub, and all his family, the priests in Nob. They all came to the king.
12. “Listen, son of Ahitub!” Saul declared. “Yes, my lord,” he replied.
13. Saul questioned him, “Why have you conspired against me with the son of Jesse by giving him food and a sword and by consulting God for him, that he might rise up against me in ambush, as is the case today?”
14. Ahimelech answered the king: “Who among all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your own house?
15. Is this the first time I have consulted God for him? No indeed! Let not the king accuse his servant or anyone in my family of such a thing. Your servant knows nothing at all, great or small, about the whole matter.”
16. But the king said, “You shall certainly die, Ahimelech, with all your family.”