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.”
17. The king then commanded his guards standing by him: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they gave David a hand. They knew he was a fugitive and yet failed to inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
18. The king therefore commanded Doeg, “You, turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite himself turned and killed the priests that day—eighty-five who wore the linen ephod.
19. Saul also put the priestly city of Nob to the sword, including men and women, children and infants, and oxen, donkeys and sheep.
20. One son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.
21. When Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord,
22. David said to him: “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would certainly tell Saul. I am responsible for the slaughter of all your family.
23. Stay with me. Do not be afraid; whoever seeks your life must seek my life also. You are under my protection.”