1 Samuel 22:11

KJV

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that [were] in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then the king {H4428} sent {H7971} to call {H7121} Ahimelech {H288} the priest {H3548}, the son {H1121} of Ahitub {H285}, and all his father's {H1} house {H1004}, the priests {H3548} that were in Nob {H5011}: and they came {H935} all of them to the king {H4428}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The king sent to summon Achimelekh the cohen the son of Achituv, along with all his father's family, the cohanim in Nov; and all of them went to the king.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.

American Standard Version

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 22:11 details King Saul's summons of Ahimelech, the high priest, and his entire priestly family from Nob. This pivotal moment underscores Saul's escalating paranoia and abuse of royal authority, as he acts on a malicious and false report from Doeg the Edomite, setting the stage for a tragic and unjust massacre of God's consecrated servants. The verse highlights the king's descent into tyranny and the innocent priests' unwitting walk into a deadly trap.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Doeg the Edomite's malicious report to King Saul concerning Ahimelech's unwitting assistance to David. In [1 Samuel 21](/1_samuel/21 "1 Samuel 21 - David's Flight to Nob"), David, fleeing Saul, sought provisions from Ahimelech in Nob, a priestly city. Ahimelech, unaware of David's desperate flight, provided him with the consecrated showbread and Goliath's sword. Doeg, present at the time, twisted these facts into an accusation of conspiracy against Ahimelech in [1 Samuel 22:9-10](/1_samuel/22-9 "1 Samuel 22:9-10 - Doeg's Accusation"). Verse 11 is Saul's direct, furious response to this false testimony, initiating the chain of events that culminates in the massacre of the priests of Nob, detailed later in the chapter. It marks a significant escalation in Saul's persecution of David and his increasing alienation from God's anointed.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Saul's reign was marked by a deepening spiritual decline, particularly after the Spirit of the LORD departed from him ([1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - Saul's Troubled Spirit")). His actions here reflect the unchecked power of an ancient Near Eastern monarch, who could issue decrees and exact collective punishment based on suspicion, without due process. Nob was a significant priestly city, serving as a temporary location for the Tabernacle and its sacred implements after the destruction of Shiloh. The priests of Nob were direct descendants of Eli, holding a sacred office vital to Israel's worship and connection with God. Saul's targeting of this priestly family was not merely an attack on individuals but an assault on the very institution of divine worship and a direct affront to God's ordained ministry, demonstrating his profound spiritual rebellion.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully illustrates the **Abuse of Power**, as King Saul, driven by paranoia and a desire to eliminate perceived threats to his throne, uses his royal authority to unjustly summon and condemn innocent religious leaders. It also highlights the devastating **Consequences of False Witness**, demonstrating how slander and misinformation, as seen in Doeg's report, can incite immense injustice and lead to tragic outcomes. The theme of **Innocence Under Threat** is prominent, as Ahimelech and the priests, simply fulfilling their duties and showing hospitality, become victims of a king's irrational fear and political vendetta. Furthermore, it underscores the stark contrast between **Divine Ordination and Human Malice**, where those serving God's sacred purposes are subjected to the wrath of a king who has been rejected by God, revealing the spiritual conflict underlying the narrative.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ahimelech (Hebrew, _ʾĂḥîmeleḵ_):** Meaning "my brother is king" or "my king is God," the name of the high priest carries a profound irony in this context. While his name suggests loyalty to a divine king, he is unjustly accused and condemned by an earthly king who has strayed far from God's will. This linguistic detail subtly underscores the tragic clash between divine authority and human tyranny.
* **Nob (Hebrew, _Nōḇ_):** This was a specific priestly city, a sacred place where the Tabernacle and its holy vessels were housed after the destruction of Shiloh. Its significance as a center of worship and priestly service makes Saul's actions against its inhabitants an even more egregious act of sacrilege, demonstrating his disregard for God's consecrated people and places.
* **"all his father's house":** This phrase emphasizes the collective nature of Saul's wrath. It was not merely Ahimelech, but his entire family—the whole lineage of priests residing in Nob—who were summoned. This signifies a widespread purge, indicating the depth of Saul's paranoia and his willingness to extinguish an entire priestly line based on a false accusation, rather than merely punishing an individual.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub":** This clause establishes Saul's direct and authoritative command. As king, Saul possessed the power to summon anyone within his realm. However, this summons is not for counsel or justice, but for condemnation, demonstrating a profound misuse of his divinely appointed authority against God's own high priest.
* **"and all his father's house, the priests that [were] in Nob":** The scope of Saul's command expands beyond Ahimelech to include his entire priestly family. This indicates a sweeping, indiscriminate act of vengeance, targeting not just the perceived individual conspirator but the entire community associated with him, highlighting the collective punishment prevalent in ancient societies and the extreme nature of Saul's paranoia.
* **"and they came all of them to the king":** This final clause depicts the priests' obedience and perhaps their unsuspecting nature. They respond to the royal summons, likely expecting to clarify any misunderstandings or to serve their king, unaware of the malicious accusations leveled against them and the tragic fate that awaits them. Their compliance underscores their innocence and the king's deceptive intent.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the summons of the priests clearly anticipates the horrific massacre that will follow in the same chapter, building a sense of dread and impending doom for the innocent. **Irony** is deeply embedded, particularly in the name Ahimelech ("my king is God"), which stands in stark contrast to the actions of the earthly king, Saul, who is acting against God's will and His servants. There is also **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience is aware of Doeg's treachery and Saul's irrational paranoia, while Ahimelech and the priests appear to be largely unaware of the true danger they are walking into. This creates a sense of **Pathos**, evoking profound sympathy for the innocent victims caught in the web of royal madness and malicious slander.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse serves as a chilling testament to the dangers of unchecked power and the devastating consequences of false witness. Theologically, it highlights the sanctity of the priestly office, which Saul so brazenly disregards, demonstrating his complete alienation from God's covenant and his descent into tyranny. It underscores the reality that even those who faithfully serve God can become targets of unjust persecution in a fallen world. Yet, it also implicitly points to God's ultimate justice, as Saul's actions here further cement his rejection as king, paving the way for David, God's chosen one, to ascend the throne. The innocent suffering of the priests of Nob foreshadows a greater, ultimate act of innocent suffering for the sake of God's people.

* [1 Samuel 22:18](/1_samuel/22-18 "1 Samuel 22:18 - Massacre of the Priests")
* [Psalm 52](/psalm/52 "Psalm 52 - David's Response to Doeg's Treachery")
* [Proverbs 18:21](/proverbs/18-21 "Proverbs 18:21 - The Power of the Tongue")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 22:11 stands as a somber reminder of the fragility of justice when power is corrupted and truth is distorted. It compels us to reflect on the immense responsibility that comes with authority, whether in leadership, family, or community, and the profound damage that can be inflicted when that authority is wielded without integrity, compassion, or a fear of God. For believers, it also offers a sobering perspective on suffering: even those who walk blamelessly and serve God faithfully may face unjust accusations and persecution. In such moments, like the priests of Nob, we are called to trust in God's ultimate sovereignty and justice, even when earthly systems fail. This passage challenges us to be vigilant against the spread of misinformation, to stand for truth, and to advocate for the innocent, recognizing the catastrophic ripple effect of slander and unchecked malice in our own contexts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we respond when powerful individuals or institutions abuse their authority, and what is our role in upholding justice in such situations?**
* **What is our responsibility to discern truth from falsehood, especially when accusations are made against others, and how can we avoid participating in or perpetuating slander?**
* **How can we maintain faith and integrity when facing unjust accusations or persecution, trusting in God's character even when our circumstances seem bleak?**

### FAQ
**Why did Saul target Ahimelech and the priests?**

Answer: Saul's actions were driven by extreme paranoia and a deep-seated fear of losing his throne, particularly to David, whom he perceived as a rival. Doeg the Edomite's malicious and twisted report in [1 Samuel 22:9-10](/1_samuel/22-9 "1 Samuel 22:9-10 - Doeg's Accusation")—claiming Ahimelech had conspired with David by giving him bread and Goliath's sword—fueled Saul's already unstable mind. Saul saw Ahimelech's unwitting act of hospitality as an act of treason, a conspiracy against his kingship, and thus sought to eliminate not just Ahimelech but his entire priestly family as a means of stamping out any perceived disloyalty.

**What was the significance of Nob as a priestly city?**

Answer: Nob was a crucial priestly city, serving as the temporary location for the Tabernacle and its sacred implements after the destruction of Shiloh. It was a center of worship, sacrifice, and priestly activity, where the high priest and his family resided and performed their duties. Saul's attack on Nob was therefore not just an assault on individuals but a direct affront to God's ordained ministry and a sacrilegious act against a holy place. This demonstrated the extent of Saul's spiritual rebellion and his disregard for divine authority.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The innocent suffering of Ahimelech and the priests of Nob, summoned and condemned by a tyrannical king on the basis of false witness, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate innocent suffering of Jesus Christ. Just as Saul, the rejected king, sought to destroy God's consecrated servants, so too did the religious and political powers of Jesus' day conspire against the true Anointed One, the ultimate High Priest. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), was unjustly accused, condemned, and led to slaughter, like a lamb silent before its shearers ([Isaiah 53:7](/isaiah/53-7 "Isaiah 53:7 - The Suffering Servant")). He came to His own, yet His own did not receive Him ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")), mirroring the rejection of God's servants in Nob. Unlike Ahimelech, whose death brought only tragedy, Christ's unjust suffering and death on the cross became the means of salvation for all humanity. He is our great High Priest, who sympathizes with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:14-15](/hebrews/4-14-15 "Hebrews 4:14-15 - Jesus Our High Priest")), an ultimate example of suffering injustice without retaliation ([1 Peter 2:23](/1_peter/2-23 "1 Peter 2:23 - Christ's Example of Suffering")). Thus, the dark episode in Nob, while tragic, points forward to the divine reversal where innocent suffering, in Christ, brings ultimate redemption and victory.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 3:15

Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: