I Samuel 22:20 · Bible study
1 Samuel 22:20 Commentary: Abiathar's Escape
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Abiathar alone survives Saul's massacre at Nob. His flight to David preserves the priesthood and advances God's purposes for the nation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Abiathar, the sole survivor of the priestly massacre at Nob, escapes to join David, preserving the high-priestly line and bringing the ephod for divine guidance.
- Key words: escaped (H4422), delivered or slipped away; fled (H1272), to run away in haste; Abiathar (H0054), “my father is great”.
- Main debate: Whether Abiathar was at Nob or elsewhere when the massacre occurred. Most commentators (Barnes, Gill, Cambridge) think he remained at the sanctuary and got warning; a minority see no need to specify.
- Theological theme: God preserves a remnant. Even in judgment, He keeps His promises to maintain the priesthood and guide His anointed king.
- Best use: A narrative of providence, refuge, and the cost of following God’s chosen leader. Preach on God’s faithfulness amid human failure.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
WEB World English Bible 2000
One of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
KJV King James Version 1769
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And there escapeth one son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, and his name is Abiathar, and he fleeth after David,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But one of the sons of Achimelech, the son of Achitob, whose name was Abiathar, escaped, and fled to David,
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas uno de los hijos de Ahimelech hijo de Ahitob, que se llamaba Abiathar, escapó, y huyóse á David.
Mas um dos filhos de Aimeleque filho de Aitube, que se chamava Abiatar, escapou, e fugiu-se a Davi.
Un fils d’Achimélec, fils d’Achithub, échappa. Son nom était Abiathar. Il s’ enfuit auprès de David,
Es entrann aber ein Sohn Ahimelechs, des Sohnes Ahitobs, der hieß Abjathar, und floh David nach
Doch een der zonen van Achimelech, den zoon van Ahitub, ontkwam, wiens naam was Abjathar; die vluchtte David na.
Nondimeno, uno de’ figliuoli di Ahimelec, figliuolo di Ahitub, di nome Abiathar, scampò e si rifugiò presso Davide.
Uszedł tylko syn jeden Achimelecha, syna Achitobowego; a imię jego Abijatar; i uciekł do Dawida.
Спасся один только сын Ахимелеха, сына Ахитува, по имени Авиафар, и убежал к Давиду.
亞希突 的兒子 亞希米勒 有一個 兒子，名叫 亞比亞他，逃 到 大衛那裡。
And Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, got away and went in flight after David;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 22:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Abiathar’s survival was no accident. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible suggest he had remained at Nob to care for the sanctuary when the other priests were summoned to Saul, giving him a chance to escape. Gill and Keil-Delitzsch note that he fled to David, the only safe place, and brought with him the ephod, the sacred garment used for inquiring of the Lord (1 Sam 23:6). This single act preserved the high-priestly line and gave David access to divine guidance during his fugitive years. Matthew Henry points out that Abiathar, like the disciples of John the Baptist after their master’s death, went and told Jesus, here, David, about the massacre. The consensus sees this as a divine provision: through one survivor, God kept the priesthood alive and bound it to His chosen king.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Abiathar alone escaped the massacre at Nob and fled to David, ensuring the continuation of the high-priestly line and providing David with the means to seek God’s guidance.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Why Abiathar survived | God’s providence spared one priest to preserve the line and aid David. | Some (Barnes, Gill) suggest he was left at Nob to guard the sanctuary; others leave the mechanism open. Both affirm it was not chance. |
| David’s responsibility for the massacre | David felt genuine guilt and acknowledged his role (v. 22). | Some see his guilt as real, his presence at Nob drew Doeg’s attention. Others argue that Doeg and Saul bear ultimate responsibility; David’s self-accusation is noble but not strictly accurate. |
| Fulfillment of prophecy against Eli’s house | The massacre fulfills the judgment pronounced in 1 Samuel 2:33, and Abiathar’s later deposition (1 Kings 2:27) completes it. | Interpreters differ on how directly the Nob massacre fulfills that prophecy, some see a gradual fulfillment over generations; others emphasize the immediate slaughter. |
| Role of the ephod | Abiathar brought the ephod to David, which was used to seek God’s will (1 Sam 23:6, 9; 30:7). | Whether this ephod included the Urim and Thummim is debated. The text does not specify, but the function of inquiring of the Lord suggests it did. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The massacre at Nob is one of the darkest moments in Saul’s reign. After Doeg the Edomite reported that Ahimelech had aided David, Saul ordered the execution of eighty-five priests and the destruction of their city, men, women, children, and livestock (1 Sam 22:18-19). This wholesale slaughter fulfilled the prophecy against Eli’s house (1 Sam 2:33) and demonstrated how far Saul had fallen.
Nob was the priestly city where the tabernacle had been relocated after Shiloh’s destruction. The priests ministered there in linen ephods, and the sacred ephod with Urim and Thummim was kept there. Abiathar, as Ahimelech’s son, likely assisted his father. When the summons came, he may have stayed behind to guard the holy things. The escape of this single priest preserved the means of inquiring of God, crucial for David’s leadership. Cross-references show Abiathar later brought the ephod to David (1 Sam 23:6) and used it to seek the Lord’s will (1 Sam 23:9; 30:7).
David’s response to the news, taking responsibility and offering protection (1 Sam 22:22-23), reveals his heart. He knew Doeg would betray him, yet he could not prevent the tragedy. He welcomes Abiathar with a promise of safety, a picture of the refuge God provides for those who flee to Him.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for 1 Samuel 22:20. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscript traditions, and the verse reads consistently in all consulted translations.
Reception History
In church history, Abiathar has been seen as a type of the faithful priest who suffers with God’s anointed. Early Christian writers noted that Jesus referenced Abiathar in Mark 2:26 when defending David’s eating of the showbread, possibly because Abiathar was the instigator of that act of kindness. Later, Abiathar’s failure in supporting Adonijah was used as a warning against disloyalty. Puritan commentators like Matthew Henry drew lessons on God’s preservation of a remnant and the refuge found in the true King, David’s greater Son. The episode is less frequently preached today but remains a powerful example of divine providence amid tragedy.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- God preserves a remnant. As eighty-five priests die, one escapes. God’s purposes are never left without a witness. Even in judgment, mercy remains.
- Allegiance to God’s anointed has a cost. Ahimelech’s family paid with their lives for helping David. But Abiathar gains a greater reward: life with the future king.
- David provides refuge. He admits his role in the tragedy and offers Abiathar his full protection. This foreshadows Christ’s welcome for those who suffer for righteousness.
Five-Point Outline
- One survivor against all odds. Abiathar alone escapes, a miracle of timing and providence.
- The high priest flees to the fugitive king. The priesthood aligns itself with God’s chosen ruler, not the reigning tyrant.
- The ephod comes to David. With the means of divine guidance, David’s leadership is now authorized by God.
- David’s confession. He takes responsibility, showing genuine humility and repentance.
- A new covenant of safety. David promises Abiathar that his life is secure because both are pursued by the same enemy.
Illustration Hooks
- A single seedling surviving a forest fire, preserving the species for the next generation.
- A whistleblower who escapes a corrupt organization and finds protection with authorities who value truth.
- A refugee who flees persecution and is taken in by a family that also faces danger, creating a bond of mutual support.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Why did God allow such a massacre of His own priests?
- Was David truly responsible for the deaths at Nob?
- How can I trust God’s purposes when tragedy strikes the innocent?
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows God’s care for His people even in the midst of horrific violence. Abiathar’s escape is not random, it is part of a larger plan to preserve the priesthood and equip David for his future reign. As you discuss, look for how God works through suffering and failure.
Discussion Questions
- What do we learn about Saul’s character from his actions at Nob? (See verses 16-19.)
- Why do you think Abiathar survived when all the other priests died? What possibilities do the commentaries suggest?
- How does Abiathar’s flight to David reflect a choice of loyalty? What risks did he take?
- David says, “I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house” (v. 22). Was he truly to blame? How does guilt affect his response?
- How does David’s promise of protection (v. 23) mirror God’s care for those who trust Him?
- Read 1 Samuel 23:6 and 30:7. What role does Abiathar play in David’s life after this event? Why is that significant?
- What does this story teach us about God’s ability to bring good out of terrible situations?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 2:33 | The man of yours whom I don’t cut off from my altar will consume your eyes and grieve your heart. All the increase of your house will die in the flower of their age. |
| I Samuel 4:12 | A man of Benjamin ran out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. |
| I Samuel 23:6 | When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. |
| I Samuel 23:9 | David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” |
| I Samuel 30:7 | David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David. |
| II Samuel 20:25 | Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests, |
| I Kings 2:26 | To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the Lord Yahweh’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.” |
| I Kings 2:27 | So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill Yahweh’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Abiathar did not escape empty-handed; he brought his priestly garments with him. This detail mattered because it meant he could still perform his sacred duties, as shown by later passages where David consults the ephod through him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes suggests that Abiathar may have instigated the gift of showbread to David, which is why he is named as the high priest in Mark's account. Alternatively, Abiathar may have performed most priestly duties alongside his father, making him the one actually involved in the event.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator suggests Abiathar may have stayed at Nob in charge of the Tabernacle and received warning before Doeg's attack. He then joined David, inquiring of the Lord for him, and stayed faithful through Absalom's rebellion, but later joined Adonijah's rebellion and was deposed by Solomon.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note identifies Abiathar as the lone survivor from the priestly family slain at Nob. It records how he escaped the massacre and fled to David, preserving the line of high priests through the son of Ahimelech.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Abiathar likely escaped because his father left him to guard the sanctuary. Hearing of the massacre, Abiathar fled to David, taking the sacred ephod with the Urim and Thummim. Gill observes that David was the only place where Abiathar could be safe, making his flight the wise choice.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights David's self-accusation after hearing Abiathar's report: David admits he feared Doeg's malicious ambition and blames himself for the fatal disaster to the priest's family. David then invites Abiathar to stay, offering protection grounded in his own firm trust in God's promised deliverance.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch note that David uses the Hebrew verb "sabab" in its causative sense to confess he is directly responsible for the priests' deaths. David's fearless invitation for Abiathar to stay stems from his firm belief that God will protect him and give him the kingdom, a confidence reinforced by Saul's growing hardness which hastens his own downfall.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on David's deep distress over being an unwitting cause of the priests' slaughter. Unlike a lesser man who might shift blame, David takes responsibility, lamenting that he occasioned the tragedy. He also notes David's foresight: knowing Doeg's character, he had already feared such mischief from that Edomite.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Abiathar held the office of high priest at this time specifically because his father had been killed, making him the successor by death rather than by normal succession.