Doeg, the Traitor

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 22

Thoughts from a Servant of King Saul

Doeg the traitor reported Ahimelech to King Saul. He said Ahimelech helped David by giving him food, a weapon, and by asking God for new direction for David.

King Saul burst into anger and ordered his troops to bring Ahimelech to him.

When Ahimelech and his whole family arrived, he went before the king and said David had been a loyal servant for King Saul. Ahimelech said David didn't do anything wrong and neither had he.

King Saul stared at Ahimelech with a look of disbelief. He stood with his spear tightly held in his hand. "David loyal? For this, priest, you shall surely die. You and all your father's house."

I looked at all the priests who came with Ahimelech from Nob. Eighty-five men in all. Saul had ordered all of them killed because David received help from Ahimelech.

Saul paced as if plotting his next move. He turned to the troops and yelled, "Kill all the priests of the Lord because they chose to help David and because they knew when he ran away and yet, didn't tell me."

The troops looked at each other and raised their eyebrows. None of them moved. Not one would lift a weapon or a hand to kill the priests of the Lord.

Doeg looked at the king. Saul's anger burned again. He raised his fist and started screaming about David. Doeg grabbed a sword and killed every single priests standing in our presence. All eighty-five. When he finished killing them, he glanced to his left and right as if looking for someone else to kill.

He ran to Ahimilech's home city, Nob and killed the men women, children, oxen, donkeys, and sheep with his sword.

What he did was wrong. Yet none of us stopped him because we would have been killed by him too.

I couldn't stay in King Saul's service any longer. I tracked down David's hiding place and begged his forgiveness. I asked to join his troops. David hugged me and welcomed me into the group.

A little while later, Abiathar, one of Ahimelech's sons, managed to escape. He came to David's hiding place. Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord's priests."

David shook his head and looked at the ground. "I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was in Gath that he would tell Saul. His eyes showed he was a traitor."

He set his hands on Abiathar's shoulders. "These killings are my fault. I have caused the death of all the persons in your father's house. Please, stay with me. Don't be afraid. The man who seeks my life seeks  your life as well. But, with me....you will be safe.

After hearing this news, the Lord gave David this Psalm:

Psalm 52
The End of the Wicked and the Peace of the Godly

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation^[a] of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
² Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
³ You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
⁴ You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.

⁵ God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
⁶ The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
⁷ “Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

⁸ But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
⁹ I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

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1.  How many priests came from Nob.

2. What did the traitor Doeg do to the priests?

3.  What did he do next in the city of Nob?

4.  Who escaped?

5. Where did he go?

6. What did he tell David

7. What did David say?

Two of our readers sent this photo:

Evil Doeg, Turns the Priest In

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 22

Thoughts from a Servant of King Saul

I have served King Saul for many years. I will remain loyal to him and obey him since he is my king...whether I agree with him or not.

King Saul had searched the countryside for David. He had troops looking in bushes, in homes, and stables. He received a report recently stating David's hiding place had been found. Saul camped in Gibeah under a tamarisk tree. He sat there with a spear in his hand ready at all times to kill David.

He called his troops for a meeting. "Listen up, you Benjamites. Do you think David, son of Jesse, will give each of you fields and vineyards and make you all captains of thousands or hundreds? Clearly all of you have banded together against me. Not one of you told me my son made a covenant with David. Not one of you feels sorry for me or has reported my son turned my troops against me, or that David lies in wait to kill me at this instant."

Doeg the Edomite stepped forward. He had been appointed head over the servants. He bowed before the king. "My lord. Begging your pardon. I have information."

King Saul leaned forward. "Finally, a trustworthy servant. Tell me your information."

Doeg bowed again. "I saw David escaping to Nob and he met with Ahimelech, the priest. During their visit, Ahimelech prayed to the Lord for David, gave him and his men food and drink, and..." Doeg lowered his voice and looked at the other men then back at King Saul. "Ahimelech gave him the sword of Goliath, the Philistine."

The troops looked at each other with wide eyes and shook their heads. King Saul's fingers wrapped tighter around his spear. I had hoped he wouldn't throw it at anyone. Saw stood up, took a deep breath and squinted his eyes. He growled. "Send for Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house.  At once!"

A group of troops left right away.

A while later they returned with Ahimelech and eighty-four men from his father's house. He bowed before the king and said, "Here I am, my lord."

Saul moved his lips side to side. His face grew redder each second he didn't speak. Finally he folded his arms and spoke. "Tell me, Ahimelech, Why have you conspired with David against me? I understand you gave him bread, a sword, and asked God directions for him. All this was done to help David rise against me, to lie in wait on this very day."

"My lord," Ahimelech said. "Is there any one of your men as faithful to you as David? He is your son-in-law. he has faithfully done everything you've commanded and has been honorable in your house. While he lived in your house did I ask God's His will for his life? No way! I am innocent of these charges."

Come back next to see what happens to Ahimelech. (Hint Doeg is going to do something)

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1. What report did King Saul receive in Gibeah?
2. What tribe were the troops from?
3. Here is a bonus one for you, the answer is not in this story, what tribe is Saul from?
4. What terrible act did Saul accuse his troops?
5. What traitor stepped forward? What did he say?
6.  Who all did Saul send for?
7.  What did Ahimilech say?

photo courtesy of Christianimageresource.com

Bonus today:

A few readers sent in their photo.

The Best Place to Hide

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 20

David's Thoughts

I tried to make peace with King Saul. I tried to show my loyalty to him but he wouldn't listen. My only choice, escape or die.

If I knew what I did wrong, how I offended the king, I would have tried to fix it.

My best fried, Jonathan warned me of his father plans. Deep down in my heart I already knew, but Jonathan didn't. When King Saul screamed his threats to kill me in front of all the people at the festival, Jonathan stormed out of the banquet hall. The next morning, he met me in the practice field and told me the news. It was a goodbye to our friendship that meant forever.

Several soldiers fled the city with me. On the way to Nob, they pledged their allegiance, promising to fight for me against the king. While I appreciated their thoughts, I didn't want any harm to come to the king. My first job: teach the soldiers to honor the king God had chosen for our country at this time, no matter what the king did or said.

Nob seemed like the perfect place to hide. This was the home of the priest, Ahimelech.

We ran most of the way, dodging between shadows, never knowing if a loyalist for King Saul hid behind a bush ready to attack. Once in Nob, we searched for the priest's house. He must have known trouble followed us because his eyes widened and he pressed his hands against his his face. "What are you doing here, David. Why are you alone?"

As a captain in the king's army, I would normally only march through this area with soldiers ready to do battle.  Ahimelech took one look behind me and saw I didn't have my troops.

My men and I hadn't eaten in a long time. "Ahimelech, I need your help. Do you have any bread? We're hungry."

He shook his head. "There isn't any regular bread for me to share." He looked behind me and around us to see if anyone else could hear. "There is..." he whispered softer, "holy bread, if the men with you have kept themselves clean."

We'd been running for three days. My men wouldn't have had any time to get into trouble. "My men and I are clean, Ahimelech. Could we have the bread?"

He brought us five loaves. I broke off a piece for myself then gave the rest to my men. "Thank you. Could I ask one more favor?  The task I have is really important. In fact I hurried away from the city so fast I forgot my spear and sword. Do you happen to have a weapon I could use?"

"I have but one." Ahimelech pointed to a cloth behind the ephod. "There is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine. The one you killed in the Valley of Elah. This is all I have to offer."

I went to the cloth, unwrapped the sword of Goliath and held it high in the air. What a magnificent sword! "Thank you. Ahimelech. This will help me succeed in my task."

I didn't know at that time, that Doeg, an Edomite who worked for King Saul, happened to be there that same day. But that is another story yet to come.

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1.  Who warned David and why?
2.  Where did David go?
3.  What did David ask from the priest?
4.  What did the priest give David?
5.  David needed something else. What did he ask for?
6.  What did the priest give David?
7.  Both times David asked the priest for something, he received something better. Why did that happen?