1 Samuel 22:16

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

And the king {H4428} said {H559}, Thou shalt surely {H4191} die {H4191}, Ahimelech {H288}, thou, and all thy father's {H1} house {H1004}.

But the king said, "You must die, you and your father's whole family."

But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.

Commentary

1 Samuel 22:16 records King Saul's furious and unjust decree against Ahimelech the priest and his entire family. This verse marks a tragic turning point in Saul's reign, highlighting his descent into tyranny and paranoia.

Context of 1 Samuel 22:16

This chilling decree is the culmination of King Saul's escalating paranoia and jealousy towards David. David, fleeing from Saul's wrath, had recently fled to Nob, the city of priests, where he received consecrated bread and Goliath's sword from Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1-6). Ahimelech, unaware of the true nature of David's flight, acted out of compassion and priestly duty. However, this act of kindness was witnessed by Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, who reported it to Saul, twisting the facts into an act of conspiracy against the king. Enraged and convinced of widespread disloyalty, Saul summoned Ahimelech and the other priests, accusing them of treason. When the priests refused to execute Ahimelech and his family, Saul commanded Doeg to carry out the massacre, leading to the slaughter of 85 priests and the desolation of Nob, the city of priests.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Abuse of Power and Tyranny: Saul's command exemplifies the dangerous consequences of unchecked authority fueled by paranoia. He acts as a despotic ruler, condemning innocent people without due process or clear evidence.
  • Innocent Suffering and Betrayal: Ahimelech and his family become victims of Saul's irrational rage and Doeg's malicious false accusation. Their deaths underscore the tragic impact of lies and betrayal.
  • Sanctity of Life and Priesthood: The slaughter of the priests, God's anointed servants, is a profound violation. It demonstrates Saul's disregard for divine institutions and the sanctity of life, further alienating him from God.
  • Collective Punishment: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, it was common for the family or household to share in the consequences of an individual's actions. Saul's decree extends the death sentence to Ahimelech's entire "father's house," reflecting this harsh cultural practice, though in this case, it was an unjust application.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Thou shalt surely die" is a powerful declaration in the KJV. In Hebrew, this is often expressed using an infinitive absolute before the finite verb (e.g., מות תמות, moth tamuth, literally "dying you shall die"). This construction emphasizes the absolute certainty and severity of the command, leaving no doubt about the king's intention to execute the death sentence. It is a definitive, irreversible pronouncement of judgment.

Reflection and Application

1 Samuel 22:16 serves as a stark warning against the destructive power of unchecked anger, paranoia, and the abuse of authority. It reminds us of the importance of seeking truth, exercising justice, and protecting the innocent, even when under duress. The story highlights how easily false accusations can lead to devastating consequences, and the critical need for leaders to act with integrity and wisdom. For believers, it underscores the value of standing for truth and the tragic outcomes when human institutions fail to uphold divine principles of justice and mercy.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 28:15

    ¶ [As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; [so is] a wicked ruler over the poor people.

  • 1 Samuel 20:31

    For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

  • 1 Kings 18:4

    For it was [so], when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

  • 1 Kings 19:2

    Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

  • Daniel 2:12

    For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon.

  • Daniel 2:5

    The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

  • Matthew 2:16

    ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
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