1 Samuel 22 20

1 Samuel 22:20 kjv

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

1 Samuel 22:20 nkjv

Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.

1 Samuel 22:20 niv

But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David.

1 Samuel 22:20 esv

But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.

1 Samuel 22:20 nlt

Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David.

1 Samuel 22 verses

1 Samuel 22 20 Meaning

First Samuel 22:20 states that Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, the high priest, escaped the horrific massacre at Nob carried out by Saul and his men. He fled directly to David, who was then in the cave of Adullam. This verse signifies the providential preservation of a priestly line, ensuring the continuity of divine consultation for God's anointed king, David, during a period when King Saul had abandoned the Lord. It marks a crucial shift in spiritual authority and access to God's will from Saul to David, affirming David's legitimacy as the future king of Israel.

1 Samuel 22 20 Context

This verse is situated immediately after Saul's catastrophic act of having Doeg the Edomite massacre the entire priestly community at Nob—eighty-five priests, along with their families and livestock—for the perceived sin of aiding David. Ahimelech, the high priest, had innocently provided David with the holy bread and Goliath's sword, unaware of the rift between Saul and David. Saul's paranoid command, executed after his own officers refused, signifies his profound descent into madness, rebellion against God's established order, and utter ruthlessness. In this backdrop of brutal violence and spiritual decay under Saul's reign, Abiathar's miraculous escape and flight to David is a beacon of hope and a divine intervention. It demonstrates that God, even amidst widespread destruction, preserves a remnant and continues to uphold His covenant with His chosen king.

1 Samuel 22 20 Word analysis

• And (וַיִּמָּלֵ֧ט - Vayyimmālēṭ): This introductory conjunction carries significant weight here. The Hebrew verb malat means "to escape," "to deliver oneself," or "to slip away." It often implies a narrow, providential escape from great danger or certain destruction, rather than a casual departure. It highlights that Abiathar's survival was exceptional amidst a general massacre, implying divine intervention.
• one of the sons (אֶחָ֤ד מִבְּנֵי֙ - echad mibbenei): "One" emphasizes the uniqueness and narrowness of the escape—only a single individual survived the extensive slaughter. "Sons" (plural) clearly identifies him as belonging to the family, distinguishing him from casual residents of Nob.
• of Ahimelech (אֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ - ʾAchimelekh): Ahimelech was the high priest at Nob, murdered by Doeg. Naming his father links Abiathar to the specific high-priestly line of Eli (through Ahimelech's father Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli). This connection is crucial as it signifies the continuity and legitimacy of the priestly office despite the tragedy.
• the son of Ahitub (בֶן־אֲחִיט֜וּב - ben-ʾAhitub): This further confirms Abiathar's identity and high-priestly lineage, rooting him firmly in the family designated by God for priestly service. Ahitub was Eli's grandson.
• named Abiathar (אֲבִיָּתָ֔ר שְׁמ֖וֹ - ʾAbiyāthār shemo): Directly identifies the survivor. The name "Abiathar" (meaning "my father is abundance" or "father of greatness") hints at his future significance as a faithful priest to David, embodying the abundance of God's favor and guidance that would be channeled through him to the rightful king.
• escaped (וַיִּמָּלֵ֧ט - Vayyimmālēṭ): The repetition of the verb malat emphasizes the success and remarkable nature of his flight from the massacre. It underscores the theme of divine deliverance.
• and fled (וַיִּבְרַ֖ח - Vayyiqbaraḥ): The verb barah means "to flee," often implying a hurried or urgent departure, typically from danger or persecution. It shows a purposeful and immediate movement away from the site of the atrocity.
• to David (אֶל־דָּוִֽד׃ - ʾEl-Dāvid): This is the crucial destination. Abiathar did not flee aimlessly or to Saul; his direct flight to David signifies a prophetic alignment, linking the legitimate priestly line with God's chosen king. David, though persecuted, was God's true anointed.

Words-group analysis:

• "And one of the sons of Ahimelech...named Abiathar, escaped": This phrase emphasizes the exceptional and providential nature of Abiathar's survival. Out of an entire priestly city slaughtered, only he was delivered. This narrow escape speaks of God's specific plan to preserve the means of divine consultation for David.
• "escaped and fled to David": This combination highlights not just a passive survival but an active, decisive movement toward the divinely ordained leader. The "escape" is deliverance from danger, while "fleeing to David" is moving toward God's chosen representative, signifying a transfer of loyalty, allegiance, and importantly, spiritual authority (including the Ephod, 1 Sam 23:6) from the illegitimate rule of Saul to the righteous path of David.

1 Samuel 22 20 Bonus section

• Fulfilled Prophecy: Abiathar's later banishment by Solomon (1 Kings 2:26-27) directly fulfills the prophecy made against the house of Eli in 1 Samuel 2:31-35, where a "faithful priest" would be raised up, and Eli's descendants would be cut off from the priesthood. This shows God's long-term sovereign plan at work even through events many decades apart.
• Significance of the Ephod: Though not explicitly mentioned until the next chapter, Abiathar bringing the ephod with him was paramount. The ephod, which contained the Urim and Thummim, was the means by which the high priest consulted the Lord for divine guidance (e.g., Ex 28:30; Num 27:21). Its presence with Abiathar allowed David to inquire of God directly throughout his wanderings and kingship.
• Contrast of Kingship: This event starkly contrasts Saul's self-serving, ungodly rule with God's ongoing commitment to David. Saul’s massacre represents the destructive consequence of rejecting God’s word and His anointed (1 Sam 15:23). Abiathar’s escape and journey to David demonstrate God’s faithfulness in providing legitimate spiritual guidance and support to His chosen leader.
• Remnant Theology: Abiathar is a key example of the biblical theme of the "remnant." Even when a people or institution faces utter destruction due to unfaithfulness, God preserves a small, faithful portion for the continuation of His redemptive plan (e.g., Rom 11:5, Isa 4:2).

1 Samuel 22 20 Commentary

1 Samuel 22:20 serves as a pivotal point in the unfolding narrative of Saul's decline and David's ascent. After Saul's unprecedented and unholy slaughter of God's priests at Nob—an act of sacrilege motivated by paranoia and defiance—the survival of Abiathar is a miracle of divine preservation. God did not allow His priestly line to be utterly extinguished or access to His divine counsel to cease for His people. Abiathar, carrying the ephod (as revealed in the next chapter), embodied the living continuation of the high-priestly office, a vital link between God and His covenant people. His flight to David was more than a mere act of self-preservation; it symbolized the transfer of spiritual authority and divine favor from the disobedient King Saul to the divinely appointed David. Through Abiathar, David would consistently be able to inquire of the Lord, a privilege Saul had lost (1 Sam 28:6). This ensured that even amidst severe persecution, God's true king had access to divine wisdom, confirming God's unwavering support for David's rightful claim to the throne. This small act of escape marks the beginning of Abiathar's significant role in David's early reign and highlights God's sovereignty over the darkest human actions, bringing light and hope from destruction.