The Book of SamuelÀpẹrẹ

Saul’s Hostility Towards David: 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29

There was an Edomite named Doeg who was the chief of Saul’s herdsmen in Nob at the time. Recognizing that Doeg was likely to report David’s whereabouts to Saul, David fled. He went briefly to the Philistine city of Gath where God gave him the wisdom to deceive the king — and protect himself — by acting like a madman. Then he went to the cave at Adullam where God blessed him with a group of about 400 fighting men. But, unlike Saul who conscripted every man he could, David did not conscript these fighters. They all came to him voluntarily. David also demonstrated the blessing of God’s Spirit by taking his mother and father to safety in Mizpeh of Moab. He remained there until the prophet Gad told him to go to Judah, and he humbly complied with God’s command. 

During all of this, the curse of the evil spirit on Saul was evident. In Gibeah, Saul raged against his men for not supporting him. So, Doeg the Edomite told Saul that David was in Nob. But when Saul learned that David had already left, and Ahimelech had helped him, he became furious and commanded Doeg to kill all the priests. As we read in 22:18, “Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod.” Saul then destroyed every person and animal in Nob, including woman and children. Only the priest Abiathar, one of Ahimelech’s sons, escaped, and he joined David and his men. 

David and Abiathar travelled together within Judah until David received word that the Philistines were troubling the people of Keilah. In contrast with Saul, David asked the Lord what he should do. God responded that he should defend Keilah from the Philistines. And God blessed David with victory. Meanwhile, God also blessed David by revealing to Abiathar that Saul was coming to Keilah. So, David called on the priest and prayed once again for guidance. God revealed that David should leave, and Saul and his army turned back. 

The fourth and last segment of Saul’s direct hostility involves several interconnected aggressions against David in the wilderness, in 23:14-28. After leaving Keilah, David travelled to the wilderness of Ziph, and later to the more southern region of the wilderness of Maon, where Saul pursued him again. 

The opening of this segment notes both the curse of the evil spirit on Saul and God’s blessing on David. We’re told that Saul relentlessly pursued David, but God never allowed him to capture David. And according to 23:17, Jonathan came to David and reassured him saying, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel.” 

Meanwhile some men from the wilderness of Ziph offered to lead Saul to David. So, David and his men went southward to the wilderness of Maon. Saul came close to capturing David, but as Saul closed in on David, God blessed David once again. Saul received word that the Philistines were attacking Israel elsewhere, and Saul was forced to turn from his pursuit and fight against them.