1 Samuel 22:19

¹⁷ Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

¹⁸ So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

²⁰ But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.

²¹ And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
KJV: And 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.
WEB: He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword—both men and women, children and nursing babies, and cattle, donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
ASV: And 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.
DARBY: And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword, both men and women, infants and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
BLB: And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the mouth of the sword, from men and to women, from children and to nursing infants, and oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, with the mouth of the sword.

ÅB: Og prestebyen Nob slo han med sverdets egg; både mann og kvinne, både barn og diebarn, både okse og esel og sau slo han med sverdets egg.
OTB: Han slo også Nob, prestenes by, med sverdets egg, både menn og kvinner, barn og spedbarn; også okser, esler og sauer slo han med sverdets egg.
B1930: Og prestebyen Nob slo han med sverdets egg; både mann og kvinne, både barn og diebarn, både okse og asen og får slo han med sverdets egg.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
Read in context
James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:9
Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
Read in context
Joshua 6:21
At the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
Read in context
Joshua 6:17
Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.
Read in context
Hosea 10:14
the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
Read in context
Nehemiah 11:32
in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
Read in context
1 Samuel 22:11
Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.
Read in context