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DAVID’S FLIGHT CONTINUES AND SAUL PURSUES:

Adullam, Mizpeh, and The Forest of Hareth

I Samuel 22:1-10

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    DAVID’S BAND OF FOUR HUNDRED (I Sam. 22:1-2)

ii.                  DAVID’S BARGAIN WITH MOAB’S KING (I Sam. 22:3-5)

iii.                DAVID’S BERTH REVEALED TO SAUL (I Sam. 22:6-10)

 

2.      When David fled from Gath, where did he go? (I Sam. 22:1)

 

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam…

 

A.    The cave Adullam

 

B.      Adullam was a town in Judah, not too far from Bethlehem (Josh. 15:20, 35).

1.      The hills in this area are called “The Shephelah.”

2.      There are many limestone caverns located in the region.

 

3.      Who heard that he was there and “went down thither to him”? (I Sam. 22:1)

 

…and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.

 

A.    His brethren and all his father’s house

 

B.      Jesse lived in the town of Bethlehem (I Sam. 16:1).

 

C.     LESSON:  Family is important.  When one family member suffers, all should come to his/her aid. 

 

4.      What three other groups went out to David at Adullam? (I Sam 22:2).

 

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him…

 

A.    Those in distress

1.      Strong (4689):  a narrow place, confinement or disability

2.      BDB:  straitness, straits, distress, stress, anguish

 

B.      Those in debt

 

C.     Those who were discontented

1.      Strong (4751):  bitter, bitterness                    :- angry, chafed

2.      BDB:  bitter, bitterness

 

D.    K&D:  “There was a large number of malcontents gathered together round David, viz., all who were in distress, and all who had creditors, and all who were embittered in spirit (bitter of soul), i.e., people who were dissatisfied with the general state of affairs or with the government of Saul…” (e-sword).

 

5.      What position did David take over them? (I Sam. 22:2)

 

…and he became a captain over them…

 

A.    Captain

1.      Strong (8269):  head person (of rank or class)

2.      BDB:  prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain

 

B.      LESSON:  If a group is going to be successful, there must be a leader to go before them.

 

6.      How many men were with David at this time? (I Sam.22:2)

 

…and there were with him about four hundred men.

 

A.    Four hundred men

 

7.      Where did David go after Adullam? (I Sam. 22:3)

 

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab…

 

Related image

 

8.      Who did he want to remain in Moab “till I know what God will do for me”? (I Sam. 22:3)

 

…and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

 

A.    His father and mother

 

B.      David was a descendant of Ruth, a great grandson, who was from Moab (Ruth 1:1-4).  This is probably what prompted David’s seeking refuge for his parents there.

 

C.     LESSON:  It is good to network yourself in numerous areas.  Others can often provide assistance to us in our time of need.

 

9.      T – F    The king of Moab refused to accept David’s mother and father in his land. (I Sam. 22:4)

 

And he brought them before the king of Moab:  and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

 

A.    False

 

10.  Who told David to flee to Judah? (I Sam. 22:5)

 

And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah…

 

A.    Gad

1.      This is the first mention we have of Gad in the Bible.

2.      We do not know if he had come to David, possibly having been sent by Samuel, or, whether he was part of the 400

3.      He will eventually become David’s seer or prophet (I Chron. 21:9).

 

B.      LESSON:  The guidance of a spiritual person is very important in our lives.  We need to find someone we can trust and put him in our circle of advisors.

 

11.  T – F    David gave heed to Nathan’s words and departed. (I Sam. 22:5)

 

Then David departed…

 

A.    True

 

12.  Where did he go in Judah? (I Sam. 22:5)

 

…and came into the forest of Hareth.

 

A.    Forest of Hareth

 

See the source image

 

 

13.  Where was Saul when he heard that David was discovered? (I Sam. 22:6)

 

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah…

 

A.    In Gibeah under a tree in Ramah

 

14.  Why is there such a detailed description of Saul in I Samuel 22:6?

 

...(now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.)

 

A.    This indicates that a formal gathering of Saul’s men had been called. 

1.      It was an open-air deliberative meeting.

2.      Saul had his sword in his hand to indicate the authority that was his.

 

B.      This meeting was probably called as a direct result of Saul’s finding out about the location of David.

 

15.  What group of people did Saul address? (I Sam. 22:7)

 

Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, hear now, ye Benjamites…

 

A.    These were Saul’s servants of the tribe of Benjamin.

 

B.      Remember:  Saul was a Benjamite.  These men were skilled warriors, especially with the sling.

 

16.  What did Saul tell them that the son of Jesse could not give them? (I Sam. 22:7)

 

…will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

 

A.    Fields

 

B.      Vineyards

 

C.     Captains of thousands

 

D.    Captains of hundreds

 

E.      LESSON:  In most administrations, there is some type of cronyism that goes on.  Saul had taken his kinsmen and had enriched them with lands and had granted them positions in his army.  These things came at a cost.  He demanded their loyalty to him for his gifts.

 

17.  What did Saul accuse the Benjamites of doing to him? (I Sam. 22:8)

 

That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me…

 

A.    Instead of being loyal, Saul accuses his servants of conspiring against him.

1.      Conspired:

a.      Strong (7194):  to tie

b.      BDB:  to bind, tie, bind together, league together, conspire

2.      There are two problems with this accusation:

a.      The servants did not know of the meetings between David and Jonathan.

b.      There was no conspiracy

 

 

18.  What had they not shown Saul? (I Sam. 22:8)

 

…or showeth me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.

 

A.    Or showeth me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait.

1.      The charge is now made that Jonathan and David had plotted together and David lies in wait to take Saul’s life.

2.      Again, the accusation is false.

3.      NOTE:  There are times when false accusations are made against another in order to “justify” an attack against the individual.

 

19.  “…and there is none of you that is sorry for me…” (I Sam. 22:8)

 

A.    Saul also accuses his servants of having no compassion for him.

 

B.      Lessons:

1.      There are times when leaders try to use shame on their followers to provoke them to action.

2.      This is the sign of a very immature leader.

 

20.  Who told Saul that he saw David come to Ahimelech in Nob? (I Sam. 22:9)

 

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

 

A.    Doeg may have been the one to bring this meeting to fruition.  He probably immediately returned to Saul and told him what had transpired at Nob.

 

B.      The information he now shares it an “attempt” to prove that David was conspiring against Saul.  He had held a meeting with the high priest Ahimelech.

 

C.     Lesson:  There are some individuals who will use information in order to personally benefit them.  They believe that the information they share proves loyalty and will get them in the good graces of the king or leader.

 

21.  What three things did Doeg say Ahimelech did for David? (I Sam. 22:10)

 

And he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

 

A.    Inquired of the Lord for him  (NOTE:  There is no information in the previous chapter that tells of such an inquiry).

 

B.      Gave him victuals

 

C.     Gave him the sword of Goliath

 

D.    LESSON:  Those who seek the favor of the king will often embellish stories with false information.  They want the matter to look as troublesome as possible.

 

 

 

SAUL SLAYS THE PRIETS OF NOB

I Samuel 22:11-23

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 22:11

ii.                  I SAMUEL 22:12-13

iii.                I SAMUEL 22:14-15

iv.                I SAMUEL 22:16-19

v.                  I SAMUEL 22:20-23

 

2.      Who did Saul assemble together in Nob? (I Sam. 22:11)

 

3.      How did Ahimelech answer the call of the king? (I Sam. 22:12)

 

4.      T – F    Saul charged Ahimelech of conspiring against him. (I Sam. 22:13)

 

5.      T – F    Saul mentioned all three things that had been reported by Doeg. (I Sam. 22:13)

 

6.      What was Ahimelech’s first response to the charge brought by Saul (I Sam. 22:14)

 

7.      T – F    Ahimelech denied that he had inquired of the Lord for David. (I Sam. 22:15)

 

8.      Ahimelech said:  “…let not the king _______________ any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father” (I Sam. 22:15).

 

9.      Define:  impute (I Sam. 22:15)

 

 

10.  T – F    Ahimelech admitted that there were some in his house who knew of the problem

between the king and David (I Sam. 22:15).

 

11.  What was the king’s sentence against Ahimelech? (I Sam. 22:16)

 

12.  Who did Saul command to slay the priests of the Lord? (I Sam. 22:17)

 

13.  T – F    The footmen slew the priests of Nob with haste and with a great slaughter. (I Sam. 22:17)

 

14.  Who did Saul command to slay the priests when the footmen refused? (I Sam. 22:18)

 

15.  How many priests did Doeg kill that day? (I Sam. 22:18)

 

16.  Who else was smitten that day in the city of Nob? (I Sam. 22:19)

 

17.  Who escaped from the city? (I Sam. 22:20)

 

18.  Where did he go? (I Sam. 22:20)

 

19.  T – F    Abiathar hid the slaughter from David. (I Sam. 22:21)

 

20.  T – F    David knew Doeg would tell Saul about his being in Nob. (I Sam. 22:22)

 

21.  “…________ have ________________ the _____________ of all the persons of thy father’s house” (I Sam. 22:22).

 

22.  What did David instruct Abiathar to do? (I Sam. 22:23)

 

23.  T – F    David assured Abiathar that he was in safe keeping with David and his men (I Sam.

22:23).

 

24.  Define:  safeguard (I Sam. 22:23)