1. So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.
2. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.
3. Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.”
4. So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.
5. One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth.
6. The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul. At the time, the king was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.
7. “Listen here, you men of Benjamin!” Saul shouted to his officers when he heard the news. “Has that son of Jesse promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army?
8. Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You’re not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!”
9. Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul’s men, spoke up. “When I was at Nob,” he said, “I saw the son of Jesse talking to the priest, Ahimelech son of Ahitub.
10. Ahimelech consulted the lord for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11. King Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech and all his family, who served as priests at Nob.
12. When they arrived, Saul shouted at him, “Listen to me, you son of Ahitub!”“What is it, my king?” Ahimelech asked.
13. “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?” Saul demanded. “Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted God for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?”