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1 Samuel 22:17

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 22:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
1 Samuel 22:17 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, who is the king`s son-in-law, and is taken into thy council, and is honorable in thy house?
15Have I to-day begun to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute anything unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more.
16And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father`s house.
17And 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.
18And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and he slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
19And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
← 1 Samuel 22:161 Samuel 22:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, etc.] Or the “runners” f457; the running footmen, that used to run before him when he went out from place to place, and were here waiting on him, ready to set out whenever he should give the orders to go elsewhere. The tradition of the Jews is, that these were Abner and Amasa f458; but, as Kimchi observes, they were not footmen, but princes, captains in the army, and the first of them the general of it: turn and slay the priests of the Lord; he owns them to be the priests of the Lord, and calls them so, and yet gave orders to put them to death, though innocent; one would have thought this their character would have flown in his face,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“SAUL COMMANDS TO KILL THE PRIESTS. (Sa1 22:17-19) the footmen that stood about him--his bodyguard, or his runners (Sa1 8:11; Sa2 15:1; Kg1 1:5; Kg1 14:28), who held an important place at court (Ch2 12:10). But they chose rather to disobey the king than to offend God by imbruing their hands in the blood of his ministering servants. A foreigner alone (Psa 52:1-3) could be found willing to be the executioner of this bloody and sacrilegious sentence. Thus was the doom of the house of Eli fulfilled [Sa1 2:30-36].”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“footmen: or, guard, Heb. runners, Sa1 8:11; Sa2 15:1; Kg1 1:5 slay the priests: Sa1 22:13, Sa1 20:33, Sa1 25:17; Kg1 18:4 would not: Sa1 14:45; Exo 1:17; Kg2 1:13, Kg2 1:14; Act 4:19 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 22:18”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification