1 Samuel 22:11-23 - Slaughter Of The Priests

11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, the priest, and all the house of his father - the priests, who were in Nob, - and they came, all of them, unto the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear, I pray thee, thou son of Ahitub! And he said - Behold me! my lord.

13 And Saul said unto him, Wherefore have ye conspired against me, thou, and the son of Jesse, - in that thou gavest him bread and a sword, and didst enquire for him of God, that he might rise up against me, that he might lie in wait, as at this day? 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, - But who, among all thy servants, like David, is, faithful, being son-in-law to the king, and, cometh near to have audience with thee, and is, honoured in thy household? 15 Did I, that day, begin to enquire for him of God? Far from me! Let not the king impute to his servant such a thing, nor to any of the household of my father, for thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more.

16 And the king said: Thou shalt, die, Ahimelech, - thou and all the household of thy father.

17 And the king said unto the runners that were stationed by him - Turn ye round and put to death the priests of Yahweh, because, their hand also, is with David, and because they knew that he was, in flight, and unveiled not mine ear. But the servants of the king were not willing to thrust forth their hand, to fall upon the priests of Yahweh.

18 Then said the king to Doeg, Turn, thou, and fall upon the priests. So Doeg the Edomite turned, and, himself, fell upon the priests, and put to death, that day, four score and five men bearing an ephod of linen; 19 Nob also, 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.

20 But there escaped one son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, whose, name, was Abiathar, - and he fled after David. 21 So Abiathar told David, - that Saul had slain the priests of Yahweh. 22 Then said David to Abiathar - I knew, that day, when Doeg the Edomite was, there, that he would, surely tell, Saul. I, am chargeable with all the lives of the house of thy father. 23 Abide with me! do not fear, for, whoso seeketh my life, seeketh thy life, - for, in safeguard, shall thou be, with me.