1st Shamu'AL (1 Samuel) — 22
Daud at the Cave of Adullam
1 So Daud left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.
2 Then others began coming, men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented, until Daud was the captain of about four hundred men.
3 Later Daud went to Mizpah in Muab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH is going to do for me.”
4 So Daud’s parents stayed in Muab with the king during the entire time Daud was living in his stronghold.
5 One day the Nabym Gad told Daud, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Yahudah.” So Daud went to the forest of Harath.
6 The news of his arrival in Yahudah soon reached Shaul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibaah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.
7 “Listen here, you men of Banyamin!” Shaul shouted to his officers when he heard the news. “Has that son of Yassa promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army?
8 Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Yassa. You are not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son, encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!”
9 Then Duag the Adumite, who was standing there with Shaul’s men, spoke up. “When I was at Nub,” he said, “I saw the son of Yassa talking to the Kuhan, Ahimalach son of Ahitub.
10 Ahimalach consulted 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Guliath the Philistine.”
The Slaughter of the Kuhanym
11 King Shaul immediately sent for Ahimalach and all his family, who served as Kuhanym at Nub.
12 When they arrived, Shaul shouted at him, “Listen to me, you son of Ahitub! “What is it, my king?” Ahimalach asked.
13 “Why have you and the son of Yassa conspired against me?” Shaul demanded. “Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?”
14 “But sir,” Ahimalach replied, “is anyone among all your servants as faithful as Daud, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household!
15 This was certainly not the first time I had consulted 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you.”
16 “You will surely die, Ahimalach, along with your entire family!” the king shouted.
17 And he ordered his bodyguards, “Kill these Kuhanym of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, for they are allies and conspirators with Daud! They knew he was running away from me, but they did not tell me!” But Shaul’s men refused to kill 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s Kuhanym.
18 Then the king said to Duag, “You do it.” So Duag the Adumite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five Kuhanym in all, still wearing their Kuhanym garments.
19 Then he went to Nub, the town of the Kuhanym, and killed the Kuhanym’ families, men and women, children and babies, and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.
20 Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimalach, escaped and fled to Daud.
21 When he told Daud that Shaul had killed the Kuhanym of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH,
22 Daud exclaimed, “I knew it! When I saw Duag the Adumite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Shaul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family.
23 Stay here with me, and do not be afraid. I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both.”