Abiathar

16But the king said, "Ahimelech, you will surely die. So will everyone in your family."

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.

17The king told the guards standing near him, "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD. They helped David. They knew he ran away and did not tell me." But the king's servants would not raise a hand against the priests of the LORD.

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

NoteGuards had to obey a king or they could be punished. These guards still said no. Hurting God's priests felt too wrong to them.

18So the king said to Doeg, "You turn and kill the priests." Doeg from Edom turned and killed them. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen vest of a priest.

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

NoteA linen ephod was a special vest that priests wore. Linen is a light, soft cloth. The vest showed that a man served God.

19He also attacked Nob, the town where the priests lived. He killed the men and women there with the sword. He killed the children and babies too, and the cows, donkeys, and sheep.

And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

NoteArmies long ago sometimes destroyed a whole town. They took away the people and even the animals. Nothing was left behind.

20But one son of Ahimelech got away. His name was Abiathar, and he ran to David.

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD’s priests.

22David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day that Doeg was there. I knew he would tell Saul. It is my fault that your whole family died.

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.

NoteEarlier, David had gone to Nob to ask for food. Doeg was there that day and saw him.

23Stay with me. Do not be afraid. The man who wants to kill me also wants to kill you. You will be safe with me."

Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

6Earlier, Abiathar son of Ahimelech had run away to David at Keilah. He brought an ephod with him.

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

NoteAbiathar was a priest, a man who served God for the people. Saul had killed the other priests, so Abiathar ran to David. An ephod was a special vest a priest wore.

7Someone told Saul that David had gone to Keilah. Saul said, "God has handed him to me. He is stuck inside a town with gates and heavy bars."

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

NoteTowns had walls with big gates. Heavy bars held the gates shut at night. Saul thought David could not get out.

8So Saul called all his soldiers together for war. They would go to Keilah and trap David and his men there.

And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

NoteSoldiers would stand all around a town so no one could leave. Then the people inside ran out of food.

9David learned that Saul was planning to hurt him. He said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."

And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

NoteThe priest used the ephod when asking God a question. God would answer yes or no.

10Then David prayed, "LORD, God of Israel, I have heard something. Saul plans to come to Keilah and wreck the town because of me.

Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

11Will the men of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul really come, as I heard? LORD, God of Israel, please tell me." The LORD said, "He will come."

Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.

12Then David asked, "Will the men of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?" The LORD said, "Yes, they will."

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

13So David and his men left Keilah. There were about six hundred of them. They moved from place to place. Saul heard that David had gotten away, so he stayed home.

Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

NoteSix hundred men had come to live with David. Many of them were poor or in trouble.

7David spoke to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech. David said, "Please bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought it to him.

And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

NoteAn ephod was a special vest that a priest wore. It held stones that were used to ask God a question. God would answer yes or no. A priest was a man who served God for the people.

8David asked the LORD, "Should I chase these raiders? Will I catch them?" The LORD said, "Go after them. You will catch them, and you will get everyone back."

And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

9So David went, and his six hundred men went with him. They came to a stream called Besor. Some of the men stayed there.

So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

NoteThe six hundred men were David's whole group of fighters. They had followed him for years while King Saul chased him.

10Two hundred men were too tired to cross the stream, so they stayed behind. David kept going with four hundred men.

But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

24Zadok the priest was there as well. The Levites with him carried the ark of God's covenant. They set the ark down, and Abiathar gave offerings until everyone had left the city.

And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

NoteThe Levites were one big family group of Israel. Their job was helping with worship. A priest led the worship and brought people's gifts to God. The ark was the special box that showed God was with his people.

25The king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If the LORD is pleased with me, he will bring me back. Then I will see the ark and God's house again."

And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

NoteGod's house was the special tent in Jerusalem. That is where people came to worship God.

26"But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then here I am. He may do to me whatever seems right to him."

But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

27The king also said to Zadok the priest, "You are a seer, a man God shows things to. Go back to the city in peace. Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan with you."

The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28"I will wait at the river crossings out in the desert. I will stay there until you send me news."

See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

NoteRiver crossings were shallow spots where people could walk across the water.

29So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. They stayed there.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

35"Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Tell them everything you hear in the king's house."

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36"Their two sons are with them, Ahimaaz and Jonathan. Send those two to me with everything you hear."

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37So Hushai, David's friend, went into the city. Absalom was arriving in Jerusalem at the same time.

So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Note"David's friend" was a real job at the palace. The king's friend was a trusted helper who gave him advice.

15Then Hushai went to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He told them both plans, Ahithophel's and his own.

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

NoteA priest was a man who served God for the people.

16"Send word to David quickly. Tell him not to stay tonight by the river crossings in the desert. Tell him to cross over at once. If he waits, he and all his people may be destroyed."

Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

NoteA river crossing is a shallow place. People could walk across the water there instead of swimming.

17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at a spring called En-rogel. They could not let anyone see them go into the city. A servant girl brought them the news. Then they carried it to King David.

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

NoteA spring is a place where water comes up out of the ground. People went there to fill their water jars.

18But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two left fast. They came to a house in Bahurim. The man there had a well in his yard. They climbed down into it.

Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

NoteA well is a deep hole dug down to water. This one was dry enough for two men to hide inside.

19The man's wife spread a cover over the mouth of the well. She scattered grain on top of the cover. Nobody could tell anything was hidden there.

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

NoteWomen spread grain outside to dry in the sun. So the grain made the well look like a normal work spot.

20Absalom's servants came to the woman and asked where Ahimaaz and Jonathan were. She said, "They went over the brook." The men looked but could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21After the men left, the two climbed out of the well. They hurried to King David. They said, "Get up and cross the river right now. This is the plan Ahithophel made against you."

And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

22So David and all his people got up. They crossed the Jordan River. By morning light, every single one of them had crossed.

Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

NoteThe Jordan is the big river of that land. Once David crossed it, the river lay between him and his enemies.

11King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests who served God for the people. He said, "Ask the leaders of Judah this. Why are you the last to bring the king home? All Israel is already talking about it.

And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

NoteA priest was a man who led worship and prayed to God for the people. Judah was one of the twelve tribes, and it was David's own tribe.

12You are my brothers. You are my own family. So why are you the last to bring the king back?"

Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

Note"Ye are my bones and my flesh" was a way of saying "you are my own family."

13"And tell Amasa this: You are my own family too. May God punish me if I do not make you leader of my army from now on, in place of Joab."

And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

NoteAmasa had been the leader of Absalom's army. David is offering the top job to the man who had just fought against him.

14David won over the hearts of all the men of Judah. They all agreed as if they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Come back, you and all your men."

And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

15So the king started home and came to the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They would help him cross the river.

So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

NoteThe Jordan was the big river David had to cross to get home. Gilgal was a town near that river.

5Then Adonijah decided he would make himself king. He was David's son, and his mother was Haggith. He got chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run ahead of him.

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

NoteA chariot is a small cart pulled by horses. Kings and soldiers rode in them. Men running ahead of him showed everyone that he was important.

6His father had never once corrected him or asked, "Why are you doing this?" Adonijah was very handsome. He was born right after his brother Absalom.

And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

NoteAbsalom was another son of David. He had also tried to take his father's throne.

7Adonijah talked with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest. Both men agreed to help him.

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

NoteA priest was a man who led people in worshiping God. Joab was the leader of David's army.

8But some men would not join Adonijah. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, a man who told people what God said. Shimei, Rei, and David's best soldiers also stayed away.

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

NoteA prophet was a person who told others what God said. David's best soldiers were the brave men who had fought beside him for years.

9Adonijah killed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves for a feast. He did this by the stone of Zoheleth, near a spring called En-rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the king's officials from Judah.

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:

NoteKilling animals like this was a way of giving a gift to God. Then everyone ate the meat together at a big feast. En-rogel was a spring of water just outside the city. Judah was the part of Israel where David's own family came from.

10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah, or the best soldiers, or his brother Solomon.

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.