David Became Their Commander

1 Samuel 22:1-23

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 22:2a

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander.

Read verses 1-2. Where does David escape to? (1a) Who goes down to David? (1b) Who else gathered around David? (2a) What does David become? (2b) How many are they? (2c)

Read verses 3-5. Where does David go? (3a) What does David ask the king of Moab? (3b, Ruth 4:5, 21–22)  What does David do with his father and mother? (v.4) What does the prophet Gad say to David? (5a) What does David do? (5b)

Read verses 6-10. What does Saul hear about David and his men? (6) How does Saul convince his officials to side with him? (7,8) What does Doeg say to Saul about David and Ahimelek? (9,10) 

Read verses 11-19. What does Saul do with the priest Ahimelek? (11-13) What does Ahimelek say to the king? (14,15) How does Saul kill the priests and their families? (16-19) 

 

Read verses 20-23. Who escapes from this massacre? (20) What does he tell David? (21) What does David say to him? (22) How does David comfort Abiathar? (23)

David Became Their Commander

1Sam 22:1-23

KV: 1Sam 22:2a

“All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented

gathered around him, and he became their commander.”

In this passage, we can see how God trained David as a spiritual leader. 

Through suffering: David even helping others in difficult situations (v1-2)

Through trusting God more deeply (v3)

Through Obeying God despite the difficult situation (v5)

May God open our eyes of our hearts to see your guidance in our present sufferings and obey you and trust you wholeheartedly. 

1. Read verses 1-2. Where does David escape to? (1a) Who goes down to David? (1b) Who else gathered around David? (2a) What does David become? (2b) How many are they? (2c)

1-1) Read verses 1-2.

1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

1-2) Where did David escape to? (1a)

a) David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. [means refuge] 

This was David’s place of refuge. 

b) David’s conditions at that time. 

i) He couldn’t go to his house for rest, or the tabernacle for worship. 

Desperate, (Psa 142:1,2) Discouraged ,(Psa 142:3) and Troubled. (Psa 142:4)  

ii) But he could go to a humble cave and find refuge.

Humbled (Psa 57:1) 

Prayerful (Psa 57:2) 

Trusting God (Psa 57:1,2)

Praising God (Psa 57:7-10) 

Seeking God’s glory (Psa 57:5,11)

1-3) Who goes down to David? (1b) 

a) David’s family came to him. 

Previously, he was not treated well by his family. (1Sam 16:11; 1Sam 17:28)

But now they came to David; showing their trust in David. 

b) David’s family realized God was with him and anointed to be the king of Israel. 

This probably was a huge comfort for David as well. 

1-4) Who else gathered around David? (2a) 

a) Everyone who was in distress, in debt, and discontented.

i) Those who were in distress for all kinds of reasons. 

Their own lives weren’t easy but hard. 

ii) Those who are in debt due to difficult economy.

Some of them wasted their money. 

Some of them were lazy or had bad habits including alcohol. 

Some of them might be deceived by dishonest people.

iii) Those who are discontented whatever the reasons might be. 

They were bitter, not satisfied with their lives or with King Saul.

b) Why they came to David, instead of their king Saul. 

Because King Saul fully focused on killing David due to his jealousy. 

  Saul did not have any desire or time to take care of the agonies of the people of Israel. 

They had problems of their own, yet God called them to David at Adullam cave.

1-5) What does David become? (2b) 

a) David became their commander. [Hebrew meaning: captain over them]

Leader for those who are in distress, in debt, and discontented.

b) David was a good example of leader. 

Serving: He served those who are in debt. 

Encouraging: He encouraged those who are in distress: encouraging leader. 

Disciplining: He disciplined those who are in discontented: gift-developing leader.

He made them into mighty men (1 Chronicles 12:8) 

1-6) How many are they? (2c)

a) About four hundred men with him: 

b) They are similar to believers.

Many believers are distressed, in debt, and discontented in this world. (1Cor 1:26-29)

2. Read verses 3-5. Where does David go? (3a) What does David ask the king of Moab? (3b, Ruth 4:5, 21–22)  What does David do with his father and mother? (4) What does the prophet Gad say to David? (5a) What does David do? (5b)

2-1) Read verses 3-5.

3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” 4 So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. 5 But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

2-2) Where does David go? (3a) 

a) David took his parents to Moab. 

His last choice was to get out of the Israel to survive. 

He did not have any direction from God at that time. (v3b)

2-3) What does David ask the king of Moab? (3b, Ruth 4:5,21–22)

a) Let my father and mother come and stay with you.

i) He thought parents would be safe in Moab. 

His great-grandmother Ruth was a Moabite. (Ruth 4:18-22, 1:4). 

ii) This was the expression of his honor for his parents. (Exo 20:12) 

He takes care of his parents even in difficult period of his life.

 

b) Until I learn what God will do for me.

He did not know what God had in mind for him. 

He did not know what God will do for him; God’s plan, will. 

But still he trusted God and ready to obey Him. 

2-4) What does David do with his father and mother? (v.4)

He left his parents with the king of Moab.

2-5) What does the prophet Gad say to David? (5a) 

a) Prophet, Gad, probably one of Samuel’s prophets. 

  God, in His mercy, provides a prophet for David,

so that he might hear the word of the Lord. 

b) Go to the land of Judah: 

God commanded David to be in the Judea. 

God wanted David to trust Him; trust His protection. 

2-6) What does David do? (5b)

a) David left and went to the forest of Hereth. 

He wanted to stay away from Saul as long as possible. 

He was afraid of being killed by King Saul. 

But despite the difficulty, David obeyed God. 

3. Read verses 6-10. What does Saul hear about David and his men? (6) How does Saul convince his officials to side with him? (7,8) What does Doeg say to Saul about David and Ahimelek? (9,10) 

3-1) Read verses 6-10.

6 Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. 7 Saul said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8 Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.” 9 But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

3-2) What does Saul hear about David and his men? (6) 

a) David and the men had been discovered: 

David came back into Judah according to God’s command. 

Saul’s men quickly discovered where he was. 

3-3) How does Saul convince his officials to side with him? (7,8) 

a) Saul’s [rhetorical] questions to his officials. (v7)

i) Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards?

He would never give any of you fields and vineyards.

ii) Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundred?

  He would never make any of you commanders. 

b) Saul’s false accusations to his officials. (v8)

i) Is that why you have all conspired against me? 

Saul was paranoid; suspicious of everyone.

ii) No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. 

iii) None of you is concerned about me. 

Saul was self-centered, selfish, and childish.  

iv) or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

Jonathan never incited David to attack his father Saul. 

Saul falsely accused his son Jonathan. 

Saul was delusional, paranoid; definitely he was not in healthy mind. 

c) Men of Benjamin. 

All his cabinet members are from Benjaminites, which Saul came from. 

He gave all the important jobs to his family, extended family. 

He could not trust anyone; he was not objective to choose the right person. 

3-4) What does Doeg say to Saul about David and Ahimelek? (9,10) 

a) Doeg: Edomite

He was there when David went to Ahimelech to ask for the bread. (1Sam 21:7)

b) Doeg’s implication for the priest Ahimelech as David’s accomplice. 

Ahimelech prayed for the David, provided the food and the sword of Goliath.  

False accusation against Ahimelech.

He might work against you Saul. 

He probably knew what David was planning to do against Saul.

4. Read verses 11-19. What does Saul do with the priest Ahimelek? (11-13) What does Ahimelek say to the king? (14,15) How does Saul kill the priests and their families? (16-19) 

 

4-1) Read verses 11-19. 

11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father’s whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” “Yes, my lord,” he answered. 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?” 14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.” 16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father’s whole family.” 17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.” But the king’s officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. 19 He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

4-2) What does Saul do with the priest Ahimelek? (11-13) 

a) Saul sent people to bring the priest Ahimelech and his whole family. 

They all came to the King. 

b) Saul asked the priest. 

i) Why have you conspired against me?

Giving him bread and a sword and Inquiring of God for him. 

ii) Paranoid 1: Saul thought David is out to kill him. 

iii) Paranoid 2: Saul thought Ahimelech is helping David to kill him. 

4-3) What does Ahimelek say to the king? (14,15) 

a) Ahimelech’s answers: 

Who is as loyal as David?

He is a captain of your bodyguard.

He is highly respected in your household.

This is not the first time I inquired of God for him. 

I did not know anything about this whole affair. 

b) Ahimelech knew nothing at all about this whole affair. 

When David came to Ahimelech David did not tell the whole story to him. (1Sam 21:1,2)

This put Ahimelech in a difficult position. 

4-4) How does Saul kill the priests and their families? (16-19)

a) You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father’s whole family! (v16)

Ahimelech did not know that Saul was jealousy of David. 

He spoke well of David before jealousy king. 

This provoked Saul’s anger more than before. 

b) The King ordered the guards to kill the priests of the Lord. (v17)

i) But Saul’s servants were not willing to kill them. (v17b)

They feared God more than Saul. 

ii) He ordered Doeg to kill the priests. (v18)

Doeg killed 85 priests on that day. (v18b)

  He also killed other women, children and animals as well. (v19)

Doeg did not fear God. 

His worship at the tabernacle was fake. (1Sam 21:7)

c) Saul became worse; going away from the Lord faster. 

How he could think about killing the priests and actually kill them. 

Once he was filled with the Holy Spirit to fight the spiritual battle against the enemies. 

But now he was filled with the evil thoughts to kill the priests of the Lord. 

5. Read verses 20-23. Who escapes from this massacre? (20) What does he tell David? (21) What does David say to him? (22) How does David comfort Abiathar? (23)

5-1) Read verses 20-23.

20 But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar: “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father’s whole family. 23 Stay with me; don’t be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me.”

5-2) Who escapes from this massacre? (20) 

Ahiathar, a son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to joint David. 

5-3) What does he tell David? (21)

a) Ahiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 

5-4) What does David say to him? (22) 

a) David’s regret. (v22)

“I knew he would be sure to tell Saul” 

“I am responsible for the death of your father’s whole family” 

David felt responsibility; he felt his guilty.

He might thought what if I were not there, they would not been killed. 

b) David’s response to Doe.g (Psa 52)

His anger against Doeg. (Psa 52:1-4) 

His trust in God. (Psa 52:5,8)

Judgment of God; righteousness (Psa 52:5) 

Love of God (Psa 52:8) 

5-5) How does David comfort Abiathar? (23) 

a) By accepting him: Stay with me. 

b) By sharing his fear: The man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. 

c) By giving safety: don’t be afraid. You will be safe with me. 

d) By confessing his guilt. (v22)

I am responsible for the death of your father’s whole family. 

In Conclusion. 

God guided and trained David as a leader for those who are in needs and distress. David trusted in God in the midst of the trails to grow up as a spiritual leader. God also trains us through trials to make us more like Jesus. May God strengthen us to see your providence in our suffering and to trust you more firmly and become holy through our sufferings.