1 Davi partiu dali e refugiou-se na caverna de Odolão. Seus irmãos e toda a sua família, ouvindo isso, foram juntar-se a ele.2 Todos os que se viam em miséria, os endividados, os descontentes, foram ter com Davi, e ele tornou-se o seu chefe. E estiveram com ele cerca de quatrocentos homens.3 Dali foi Davi para Masfa, em Moab, e disse ao rei de Moab: Permiti que meu pai e minha mãe venham habitar no meio de vós, até que eu saiba o que o Senhor me reserva.4 Apresentou-os, pois, ao rei de Moab, e ficaram com ele durante todo o tempo em que Davi permaneceu no fortim.5 Mas o profeta Gad disse a Davi: Não fiques no fortim. Parte, volta à terra de Judá. Davi partiu e internou-se na floresta de Haret.6 Saul foi informado de que haviam descoberto Davi e os seus. Estava o rei em Gabaa, sentado debaixo de uma tamareira, na colina, com a sua lança na mão, tendo todos os seus familiares em redor de si.7 Saul disse-lhes: Escutai, benjaminitas: será que o filho de Isaí dará a todos vós campos e vinhas? Irá ele fazer de todos vós chefes de milhares e chefes de centenas?8 Por que vos conjurastes contra mim? Ninguém de vós me informou que meu filho tinha feito aliança com o filho de Isaí, e ninguém se deu o trabalho de avisar-me que meu filho instigava meu servo contra mim, para armar-me ciladas, como ele o faz hoje!9 Doeg, o edomita, que era o primeiro entre os domésticos de Saul, respondeu: Eu vi o filho de Isaí chegar a Nobe, à casa de Aquimelec, filho de Aquitob.10 Este consultou o Senhor por ele e deu-lhe provisões, entregando-lhe também a espada do filisteu Golias.11 O rei mandou chamar o sacerdote Aquimelec, filho de Aquitob, com toda a casa de seu pai, os sacerdotes que estavam em Nobe. Chegando eles à presença do rei,12 Saul disse-lhes: Escuta, filho de Aquitob! Eis-me aqui, meu senhor, respondeu ele.13 Por que, retomou Saul, conspiraste contra mim, tu e o filho de Isaí? Deste-lhe pão e uma espada, e consultaste Deus por ele, a fim de que ele se revolte contra mim e me arme ciladas como hoje acontece.14 Aquimelec respondeu ao rei: Haverá entre todos os teus servos alguém mais fiel que Davi, genro do rei, teu conselheiro, um homem estimado por toda a tua casa?15 Foi porventura hoje que comecei a consultar Deus por ele? Longe de mim {qualquer idéia de revolta}! Não impute o rei crime algum ao seu servo, nem à sua família! Teu servo nada soube de tudo isto, nem pouco nem muito.16 O rei disse: Tu morrerás, Aquimelec, tu e toda a tua família!17 E, dirigindo-se aos guardas que o cercavam: Ide, disse ele; matai os sacerdotes do Senhor, pois fizeram-se cúmplices de Davi: sabiam de sua fuga e não me preveniram. Mas os guardas do rei se recusaram a levantar a mão contra os sacerdotes do Senhor.18 Então o rei ordenou a Doeg: Vamos, fere-os. E Doeg, o edomita, aproximou-se e foi ele quem matou os sacerdotes. Massacrou naquele dia oitenta e cinco homens que vestiam o efod de linho.19 Ordenou também Saul que fosse passada ao fio da espada a cidade sacerdotal de Nobe: homens, mulheres, meninos, crianças de peito, bois, jumentos e ovelhas.20 Só escapou um filho de Aquimelec, filho de Aquitob, chamado Abiatar, que se refugiou junto de Davi.21 Abiatar anunciou-lhe que Saul tinha massacrado os sacerdotes do Senhor.22 Davi disse-lhe: Eu bem suspeitava naquele dia que, estando ali Doeg, o edomita, ele iria contar tudo a Saul. Sou eu o culpado da morte de toda a casa de teu pai.23 Fica comigo; não temas. Aquele que odeia a minha vida, odeia igualmente a tua. Junto de mim estarás seguro.

1 And David departed thence, and escaped to the cave ‘Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down to him thither.2 And there gathered themselves unto him every one that was in distress, and every one that had a creditor, and every one that had an embittered spirit; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, go forth with you, until I can know what God will do for me.4 And he conducted them to the presence of the king of Moab: and they remained with him all the time that David was in the strong–hold.5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Thou must not remain in the strong–hold: depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Chereth.6 And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, now Saul was sitting in Gib’ah under the tamarisk on the hill, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;7 Then said Saul unto his servants that stood about him, Hear, I pray you, men of Benjamin! will the son of Jesse give, indeed, to every one of you fields and vineyards? will he appoint you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds?8 That ye have conspired, all of you, against me, and there is none that informeth me, while my son hath made a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is concerned for me, or informeth me that my son hath stirred up my servant to lie in wait against me, as it is this day?9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Achimelech the son of Achitub.10 And he asked counsel for him of the Lord, and he gave him provision, and gave him also the sword of Goliath the philistine.11 Then sent the king to call Achimelech, the son of Achitub, the priest, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came, all of them, to the king.12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Achitub. And he said, here am I, my Lord.13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou didst give him bread, and a sword, and hast asked counsel for him of God, that he should rise to lie in wait against me, as it is this day!14 Then answered Achimelech the king, and said, And who is among all thy servants so trusted as David, and the king’s son–in–law, and freely admitted to thy private council, and is honored in thy house?15 Did I this day then begin to ask counsel for him of God? far be it from me; let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for thy servant knew not of all this, either a little or great thing.16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Achimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.17 And the king said unto the runners that stood about him, Turn round and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing, and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not stretch forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou round, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned round, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day eighty and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and lambs, with the edge of the sword.20 And there escaped one of the sons of Achimelech the son of Achitub, whose name was Ebyathar, and he fled after David.21 And Ebyathar told David that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord.22 And David said unto Ebyathar, I knew on that day, because Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have myself occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.23 Remain thou with me, fear nothing; for he that will seek my life will seek thy life; but thou shalt be well guarded with me.