But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
Parallel translations
- WEB One of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
- KJV And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
- NKJV Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.
- NASB But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.
- NLT Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, escapes the massacre and flees to David.
Overview
One priest, Abiathar, survives the slaughter at Nob and flees for refuge to David. His escape preserves the line of Eli's priesthood and brings the ephod and priestly ministry into David's company. God's providence keeps a remnant of His priesthood alive even amid Saul's bloody purge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Sam 23:6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
- 1 Sam 30:7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,
- 1 Sam 2:33And every one of you that I do not cut off from My altar, your eyes will fail and your heart will grieve. All your descendants will die by the sword of men.
- 1 Sam 23:9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
- 1 Kgs 2:26–27Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”
- 1 Sam 4:12That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
- Job 1:19when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
- 2 Sam 20:25Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
- Job 1:15–17the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 22:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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