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1 Samuel 22:12–23
So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod (v. 18b).
When the priests of Nob are brought into his presence, Saul immediately accuses Ahimelech of conspiring to help David rise up against him. But Ahimelech pleads “Not guilty.” Though he acknowledges all that Doeg has said, he claims that he acted in ignorance: “Your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.” As far as he knew, Ahimelech says, David was the most trusted of Saul’s servants; there was no reason to suspect his story about a secret mission. Besides, David is Saul’s own son-in-law. And as for inquiring of God for David, that was nothing new. So Saul should not impute impure motives to him or the other priests, Ahimelech argues. But his plea falls on deaf ears—Saul pronounces a death sentence on Ahimelech and all the priests! In his eyes, they are on David’s side and they failed to warn him when David fled. On that basis, he orders his guards to slay all the priests. The guards, however, are unable to bring themselves to carry out this monstrous order. So Saul turns to Doeg, and Doeg, once again, does not hold back. He cuts down 85 priests of Israel, then goes after their families, brutally killing all the men, women, children, and even animals in Nob. In his conflict with God, Saul already has gone to war against God’s anointed successor to the throne; now he extends that war to God’s servants in the priestly line.
Though this slaughter is indeed horrific, we must not miss the fact that it is the fulfillment of God’s prophecy against Eli’s priestly line. “Though Saul was unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting it,” Matthew Henry writes. “Now God performed against Eli that at which the ears of those that heard it must needs tingle, as He had told him that He would judge his house for ever (3:11–13).” Though it is difficult to accept, Saul, acting sinfully, is carrying out the will of God by ordering this massacre.
Only one of the priests escapes the carnage—Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech—and he makes his way to David with the awful news. David immediately realizes that he bears some blame, for by failing to trust God and going to Ahimelech in an untruthful way, he put the high priest’s life in danger. But David’s faith in God’s preservation is growing strong once more, so that he can promise that Abiathar will be safe as long as he stays with David.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
In His eternal counsels before the world was made, God determined that Saul would kill the priests in order to bring judgment on Eli’s house. And yet, God was not the author of this sin; the guilt was Saul’s. God’s decrees are certain and His ways are holy. Praise Him today for this reminder that nothing can thwart His will.
For Further Study
- Gen. 50:20
- Acts 2:23; 4:27–28; 15:18
- Rev. 16:7; 19:2