15. Yes, I consulted God for him, and it wasn't the first time. As for plotting against you, Your Majesty must not accuse me or anyone else in my family. I don't know anything about this matter!”
16. The king said, “Ahimelech, you and all your relatives must die.”
17. Then he said to the guards standing near him, “Kill the Lord's priests! They conspired with David and did not tell me that he had run away, even though they knew it all along.” But the guards refused to lift a hand to kill the Lord's priests.
18. So Saul said to Doeg, “You kill them!” — and Doeg killed them all. On that day he killed 85 priests who were qualified to carry the ephod.
19. Saul also ordered all the other inhabitants of Nob, the city of priests, to be put to death: men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys, and sheep — they were all killed.
20. But Abiathar, one of Ahimelech's sons, escaped, and went and joined David.
21. He told him how Saul had slaughtered the priests of the Lord.
22. David said to him, “When I saw Doeg there that day, I knew that he would be sure to tell Saul. So I am responsible for the death of all your relatives.
23. Stay with me and don't be afraid. Saul wants to kill both you and me, but you will be safe with me.”