1 Samuel 22:1-23 CSB
22 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. 2 In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him [the king of Moab] the whole time David was in the stronghold.
“...until I know what God will do for me.”
1 Samuel 14:47 ESV
47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he routed them.
‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’
David’s great-grandmother, Ruth, was from Moab.
5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
Gad. Fairly obscure character
6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
Saul is holding high court.
7 Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8 That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son. None of you cares about me or tells me that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”
Saul’s character?
David’s character:
Caring for his family
Won’t hurt Saul.
Waiting on the LORD.
Taking in 400 distressed & destitute men
9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered, “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. 10 Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
DIFFERENCES from Chapter 21:
Doeg doesn’t mention that David said he was on the king’s mission
Doeg also claims that Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for David
Slaughter of the Priests
11 The king sent messengers to summon the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”
“I’m at your service, my lord,” he said.
13 Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.”
Saul is paranoid
14 Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was today the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s family, for your servant didn’t have any idea about all this.”
Ahimelech gives a truthful response, defending David:
Ahimelech is pleading his case before Saul
16 But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech—you and your father’s whole family!”
This fulfills prophecy from 1 Samuel 2
1 Samuel 2:31 ESV
31 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house…
1 Samuel 2:33 ESV
33 The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men.
Here is a prophecy of God fulfilled by a wicked, evil man…Saul.
Another example:
Acts 2:22-24 ESV
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him [Jesus] to be held by it.
God uses evil…to accomplish His plans.
17 Then the king [Saul] ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the LORD.
Why won’t Saul’s own servants obey his command to kill the priests?
Why is it such a big deal?
18 So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men who wore linen ephods. 19 He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword—both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
Doeg is an Edomite.
Edomites are descendants of Esau.
Edomites are NOT Israelites.
Edomites don’t worship YHWH.
20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s family. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life. You will be safe with me.”
David has 400 men under his command + a prophet + a priest
He’s got a prophet…and now a priest.
What is a priest of YHWH?
What does a priest do?
Numbers 3:7-8 ESV
7 They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. 8 They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.
They guard.
Leviticus 9:6-7 ESV
6 And Moses said, “This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.” 7 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.”
Priests approach the altar
Sacrifices & Offerings
Atone for sins
Blood
[QUOTE]
“In sum, the priests played the significant role of standing guard in God’s house, making sacrifices for God’s people, and instructing the people so that they could enjoy God’s blessings. When priests did their job, God blessed his people, but when they failed, God’s curses fell on the people. Throughout Israel’s history, this pattern repeated, showing the role that priests played and why a new and better priest(hood) was ultimately needed.“
— David S. Schrock
Theme of priesthood
1 Samuel 2:35 ESV
35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.
Exodus 19:5-6 ESV
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
God’s plan is to make a kingdom of priests
[QUOTE]
“When priests did their job, God blessed his people, but when they failed, God’s curses fell on the people. Throughout Israel’s history, this pattern repeated, showing the role that priests played and why a new and better priest(hood) was ultimately needed.“
— David S. Schrock
Zechariah 3:1-9 ESV
A Vision of Joshua the High Priest
3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan [Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary] standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand [burning stick] plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him [Joshua], “Remove the filthy garments from him [Joshua].” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.
6 And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua, 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven [facets], I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.
Zechariah 6:12-15 ESV
12 …‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And [he] shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the LORD as a reminder…
THE PLAN → a priest who is also a king will be in the temple of YHWH
1 Peter 2:3-5 ESV
3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good. [Psalm 34:8] 4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by [precious to] God—
5 [you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to become a holy priesthood] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We are priests of our great high priest
We serve Jesus, our great high priest
We help the high priest
Hebrews 5:7-9 ESV
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Obey Him
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