Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 22

David, being driven from Achish, returns into the land of Israel to be hunted by Saul. I. David sets up his standard in the cave of Adullam, entertains his relations (1 Samuel 22:1), enlists soldiers (1 Samuel 22:2), but removes his aged parents to a more quiet settlement (1 Samuel 22:3, 22:4), and has the prophet Gad for his counsellor, 1 Samuel 22:5. Saul resolves to pursue him and find him out, complains of his servants and Jonathan (1 Samuel 22:6-22:8), and, finding by Doeg’s information that Ahimelech had been kind to David, he ordered him and all the priests that were with him, eighty-five in all, to be put to death, and all that belonged to them destroyed (1 Samuel 22:9-22:19) from the barbarous execution of which sentence Abiathar escaped to David, 1 Samuel 22:20-22:23. MHBCC 259.1