1 Samuel 22 10

1 Samuel 22:10 kjv

And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

1 Samuel 22:10 nkjv

And he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

1 Samuel 22:10 niv

Ahimelek inquired of the LORD for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

1 Samuel 22:10 esv

and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

1 Samuel 22:10 nlt

Ahimelech consulted the LORD for him. Then he gave him food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

1 Samuel 22 verses

1 Samuel 22 10 Meaning

First Samuel 22:10 records Doeg the Edomite's malicious testimony against Ahimelech the priest. Doeg falsely claimed that Ahimelech not only "inquired of the Lord for him" – implying divine endorsement or guidance for David – but also provided David with consecrated "provisions" (the holy showbread) and "the sword of Goliath." This testimony distorted Ahimelech's compassionate actions, which were based on David's fabricated story of being on King Saul's secret mission, into deliberate acts of treason and aid to a rebel, inciting Saul's murderous rage.

1 Samuel 22 10 Context

First Samuel chapter 22 places David in dire straits as a hunted fugitive, relentlessly pursued by a jealous and paranoid King Saul. After leaving Saul's court, David sought refuge in Nob, the city where the Tabernacle was located and priests served. In a moment of desperation, David misled Ahimelech, the priest, fabricating a story about being on a secret mission for Saul to secure provisions and a weapon. Unbeknownst to them, Doeg the Edomite, a chief of Saul’s herdsmen, was present and witnessed this encounter. Later, when Saul learns of David's escape and believes there's a conspiracy against him, Doeg volunteers his testimony. Verse 10 captures Doeg's selective and twisted account, deliberately omitting David’s deception and Ahimelech's innocence, instead framing the priest’s compassionate aid as an act of treasonous support. This malicious report ignited Saul’s fury, leading directly to the slaughter of Ahimelech and the entire priestly community at Nob, exposing the depths of Saul's irrational cruelty and unrighteous judgment.

1 Samuel 22 10 Word analysis

• And inquired (וַיִּשְׁאַל - vayyish'al) of the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH) for him: This phrase describes a crucial priestly function. "Vayyish'al" means "he inquired" or "he consulted," a common act performed by priests to seek divine guidance for individuals or the nation, typically using the Urim and Thummim (Exo 28:30). By stating that Ahimelech "inquired of the Lord for him" (meaning David), Doeg emphasizes the direct spiritual assistance given to David. While Ahimelech did indeed inquire for David (as Ahimelech confirms in 1 Sam 22:15, "for did I then begin to enquire of God for him?"), Doeg's testimony isolates this act and twists its benign nature into an act of direct endorsement or counsel to a perceived enemy of the king, thus framing it as treacherous.
• and gave him (וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ - vayyitten-lo) provisions (לֶחֶם - lechem): "Vayyitten-lo" simply means "and he gave to him." The term "lechem" typically means "bread" or "food." However, in the immediate preceding context of 1 Sam 21:4-6, it specifically refers to the "showbread" (lechem hapanim), also known as the "consecrated bread," which was holy and ordinarily reserved only for priests to eat (Lev 24:9). Ahimelech gave this bread to David due to his professed dire need and lack of any other available food, believing David was on legitimate royal business and his men ceremonially clean. Doeg deliberately omits these crucial mitigating details, portraying the giving of holy bread as a sacrilegious act and direct material aid to Saul’s perceived rebel. This partial truth served to intensify Saul's outrage by highlighting a clear breach of cultic law and showing perceived favoritism.
• and gave him (וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ - vayyitten-lo) the sword (חֶרֶב - cherev) of Goliath (גָּלְיָת - Golyath) the Philistine (פְּלִשְׁתִּי - Pelishti): The repetition of "vayyitten-lo" highlights the two significant items provided. The "cherev" is a sword. However, it's not just any sword but specifically "the sword of Goliath the Philistine." This detail is crucial for its symbolic weight. This sword was a trophy of David’s iconic victory over the Philistine giant, a sign of God's favor and David's burgeoning strength and destiny, likely kept in the tabernacle as a holy artifact (1 Sam 21:9). By specifying this particular weapon, Doeg knew he was pointing to David's potent symbol of divine anointing and martial prowess, directly playing on Saul's deepest fears and envy of David. Doeg presented Ahimelech's simple act of providing a weapon as an act of consciously rearming the very man Saul feared the most with the weapon most indicative of his God-given destiny.

1 Samuel 22 10 Bonus section

• Ahimelech's Innocence: Ahimelech's response to Saul's accusation in 1 Sam 22:14-15 clearly demonstrates his innocence and unawareness of David's true flight from Saul. He stated, "Let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more," showing his pure intentions.
• Doeg's Malevolence: Doeg's action stemmed from opportunism and a desire to curry favor with Saul (1 Sam 22:9). His wickedness is explicitly condemned by David in Psalm 52, which characterizes him as one who loves evil, devouring words, and deceit. He exemplifies a heart consumed by malice and devoid of truth.
• Saul's Spiritual Decline: This event marks a severe nadir in Saul's reign, exposing his utter lack of trust in God and profound spiritual and mental deterioration. His paranoia and thirst for control blinded him to truth and justice, leading him to commit sacrilege by ordering the slaughter of God's priests and violating the sacred city of Nob. This tyrannical act solidifies God's rejection of Saul as king.
• Theme of False Witness: The verse highlights the devastating impact of false witness, a sin frequently condemned in Scripture (Exo 20:16; Prov 19:5). Doeg's testimony led to the death of innocent people, echoing the biblical pattern of the righteous suffering under deceitful accusations, ultimately prefiguring the unjust trials of the prophets and of Christ himself.

1 Samuel 22 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 22:10 serves as a pivotal point demonstrating the escalating tragedy of Saul's reign and the corrupting power of paranoia. Doeg the Edomite’s testimony is a masterclass in malicious misrepresentation; he meticulously selected factual components from the encounter between David and Ahimelech – the priest’s inquiry of God, the provision of holy food, and the giving of a renowned weapon – but stripped them of their context and genuine intent. Ahimelech, though deceived by David, acted out of compassion and ignorance of David’s true status as a fugitive, believing he was assisting a royal servant on the king’s behalf (1 Sam 22:15). Doeg’s account skillfully omitted David’s deception and Ahimelech’s ignorance, transforming a benevolent, if misinformed, priestly service into a conspiracy against the king. This calculated distortion resonated deeply with Saul’s existing jealousy and irrational fear of David, leading to a catastrophic and unjust outcome: the massacre of the innocent priestly community at Nob. This verse powerfully illustrates the devastating consequences of false witness and leadership unmoored from justice and truth, tragically sealing the fate of Saul's kingship.