”And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!” Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword.“
I Samuel 22:16-19 NKJV
a. You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house: A man in the place of sin and rebellion Saul was in could not stand to see an innocent, guileless man like Ahimelech disagree with him. So, he commanded him to be murdered.
i. Saul was reluctant to kill the enemies of the LORD when he was commanded to (1 Samuel 15:9). But he wasn’t reluctant to murder the priests of the LORD in cold blood. Saul is clearly going off the deep end.
“His anger was bent against the Lord himself, for taking away his kingdom, and giving it to another: and because he could not come at the Lord, therefore he wreaketh his rage upon his priests.” (Trapp)
ii. “This is one of the worst acts in the life of Saul; his malice was implacable, and his wrath was cruel, and there is no motive of justice or policy by which such a barbarous act can be justified.” (Clarke)
“A bloody sentence, harshly pronounced and as rashly executed, without any pause or deliberation, without any remorse or regret. This was the worst act that ever Saul did.” (Trapp)
b. The servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests: To their credit, Saul’s servants feared God more than Saul and they refused to murder the priests.
c. So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests: Doeg, who was not a Jew but an Edomite, didn’t hesitate to murder the priests and their families. Doeg was detained before the LORD at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 21:7) but it didn’t change his heart at all. (Guzik)
1 Samuel 21:7 MSG 7 One of Saul’s officials was present that day keeping a religious vow. His name was Doeg the Edomite. He was chief of Saul’s shepherds.
Chief of the herdsmen: The word translated chief means mighty but can also be used to mean violent or obstinate. Doeg will show himself to be a violent and obstinate man. (Guzik)
Violent and Obstinate
King Saul gave the cruel order but his servants would not lift a hand!
It took a violent and obstinate man, Doeg the Edomite to carry out the murders of the priests and their families!
I’m reminded what Jesus said to Peter after he cut off the ear of a servant!
”But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.“ Matthew 26:52 NKJV
The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened to Doeg the Edomite but I wonder if he perished by the sword?
Blessings
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