17. Then the king gave an order to the guards who were at his side. He said, "Go and kill the priests of the Lord. They are on David's side too. They knew he was running away from me. And they didn't even tell me." But the king's officials wouldn't raise a hand to strike down the priests of the Lord.
18. Then the king ordered Doeg, "You go and strike the priests down." So Doeg, the Edomite, went and struck them down. That day he killed 85 men who wore linen aprons.
19. He also killed the people of Nob with his sword. Nob was a town where priests lived. Doeg killed its men and women. He killed its children and babies. He also destroyed its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
20. But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escaped. Ahimelech was the son of Ahitub. Abiathar ran away and joined David.
21. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.
22. Then David said to Abiathar, "One day I was at Nob. I saw Doeg, the Edomite, there. I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. Your whole family has been killed. And I'm accountable for it.