1 Samuel 22:17

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also [is] with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

And the king {H4428} said {H559} unto the footmen {H7323} that stood {H5324} about him, Turn {H5437}, and slay {H4191} the priests {H3548} of the LORD {H3068}; because their hand {H3027} also is with David {H1732}, and because they knew {H3045} when he fled {H1272}, and did not shew {H1540}{H241} it to me. But the servants {H5650} of the king {H4428} would {H14} not put forth {H7971} their hand {H3027} to fall {H6293} upon the priests {H3548} of the LORD {H3068}.

Then the king told the guards standing around him, "Go around, and kill the cohanim of ADONAI, because they are siding with David, and because they knew he was escaping, yet they didn't tell me." But the king's servants refused to lift their hands against the cohanim of ADONAI.

Then the king ordered the guards at his side, โ€œTurn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.โ€ But the kingโ€™s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

And the king said unto the guard that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of Jehovah; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of Jehovah.

Commentary

Context of 1 Samuel 22:17

This verse is a poignant moment in the escalating conflict between King Saul and David. After David's desperate flight and his unwitting aid from Ahimelech the priest in Nob (who provided him with holy bread and Goliath's sword), Saul was informed by Doeg the Edomite (1 Samuel 22:9-10). Consumed by paranoia and jealousy, Saul summoned Ahimelech and the priests, accusing them of conspiracy with David. Despite Ahimelech's earnest defense, explaining he was unaware of David's plight or flight from Saul, the king issued a death sentence upon the entire priestly family of Nob (1 Samuel 22:16). Verse 17 captures the immediate aftermath of this shocking command, highlighting the moral dilemma faced by Saul's personal guards.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Saul's Tyranny and Moral Decay: This verse starkly illustrates King Saul's descent into unchecked tyranny and moral depravity. His command to slaughter innocent priests, who served the LORD, shows a king completely detached from justice and the fear of God.
  • Conscience and Moral Courage: The refusal of the king's servants to obey Saul's command is a powerful testament to moral courage and the sanctity of conscience. They chose to defy a direct royal order, risking their own lives, rather than participate in an act they recognized as profoundly evil and blasphemous against the priests of the LORD. This demonstrates the principle of obeying God rather than men.
  • Sanctity of the Priesthood: The priests were set apart for sacred service to God. Saul's order to kill them was not just an act of murder but an attack on God's appointed ministers, a sacrilege that underscored his rejection of divine authority.
  • Divine Intervention (Implicit): While not explicitly stated, the refusal of the footmen can be seen as a form of divine intervention, preventing the immediate execution of God's servants by Saul's own loyal guards. This ultimately sets the stage for the tragic fulfillment of Saul's command by Doeg the Edomite.

Linguistic Insights

The term "footmen" (Hebrew: ืจึธืฆึดื™ื, ratsim) refers to the king's personal guard or runners, who were typically the closest and most trusted servants, expected to carry out the king's orders without question. Their refusal is therefore highly significant, indicating a deep moral conviction that even outweighed their sworn duty or fear of the king.

Practical Application

1 Samuel 22:17 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of moral integrity, even in the face of immense pressure or authoritarian commands. It challenges us to:

  • Cultivate a Strong Moral Compass: To discern between right and wrong, even when authority figures demand otherwise.
  • Exercise Moral Courage: To stand firm against injustice and evil, even when it means personal risk. The footmen chose their conscience over their lives.
  • Recognize the Dangers of Unchecked Power: The narrative of Saul's reign is a cautionary tale about how power, when unconstrained by righteousness or accountability, can lead to tyranny and destruction.
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

  • Exodus 1:17

    But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

  • 1 Samuel 14:45

    And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: [as] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

  • 2 Kings 1:13

    And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

  • 2 Kings 1:14

    Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

  • 2 Samuel 15:1

    ยถ And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

  • 1 Samuel 8:11

    And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots.

  • 1 Kings 1:5

    ยถ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
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