Shmuel Aleph Perek 22

Shmuel Aleph Perek 22

By Gershon Eisenberger

פסוקים א-ה​

​א) וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד מִשָּׁם וַיִּמָּלֵט אֶל־מְעָרַת עֲדֻלָּם וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶחָיו וְכָל־בֵּית אָבִיו וַיֵּֽרְדוּ אֵלָיו שָֽׁמָּה

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ב) וַיִּתְקַבְּצוּ אֵלָיו כָּל־אִישׁ מָצוֹק וְכָל־אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ נֹשֶׁא וְכָל־אִישׁ מַר־נֶפֶשׁ וַיְֽהִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְשָׂר וַיִּהְיוּ עִמּוֹ כְּאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אִֽישׁ

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ג) וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד מִשָּׁם מִצְפֵּה מוֹאָב וַיֹּאמֶר ׀ אֶל־מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב יֵֽצֵא־נָא אָבִי וְאִמִּי אִתְּכֶם עַד אֲשֶׁר אֵדַע מַה־יַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּי אֱלֹהִֽים

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ד) וַיַּנְחֵם אֶת־פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ עִמּוֹ כָּל־יְמֵי הֱיוֹת־דָּוִד בַּמְּצוּדָֽה

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ה) וַיֹּאמֶר גָּד הַנָּבִיא אֶל־דָּוִד לֹא תֵשֵׁב בַּמְּצוּדָה לֵךְ וּבָֽאתָ־לְּךָ אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיָּבֹא יַעַר חָֽרֶת

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What is happening in Pesukim א-ה?

• ​David runs away to the Cave of Adullam. Adullam was a town in the Shevet Yehuda's territory.

• ​Around 400 people join David in Adullam. These people are made up of people with hardships and difficulty in their lives.

• David then goes to Cheret Forest.​

Multiple Choice

Where did David run to?

• Yerushalayim

• Adullam

• Yericho

• Chevron

Multiple Choice

Around how many people joined David in Adullam?

• 100

• 200

• 300

• 400

פסוקים ​ו-ח

​ו וַיִּשְׁמַע שָׁאוּל כִּי נוֹדַע דָּוִד וַֽאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וְשָׁאוּל יוֹשֵׁב בַּגִּבְעָה תַּֽחַת־הָאֵשֶׁל בָּֽרָמָה וַֽחֲנִיתוֹ בְיָדוֹ וְכָל־עֲבָדָיו נִצָּבִים עָלָֽיו

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ז וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל לַֽעֲבָדָיו הַנִּצָּבִים עָלָיו שִׁמְעוּ־נָא בְּנֵי יְמִינִי גַּם־לְכֻלְּכֶם יִתֵּן בֶּן־יִשַׁי שָׂדוֹת וּכְרָמִים

לְכֻלְּכֶם יָשִׂים שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי מֵאֽוֹת

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ח כִּי קְשַׁרְתֶּם כֻּלְּכֶם עָלַי וְאֵֽין־גֹּלֶה אֶת־אָזְנִי בִּכְרָת־בְּנִי עִם־בֶּן־יִשַׁי וְאֵין־חֹלֶה מִכֶּם עָלַי וְגֹלֶה אֶת־אָזְנִי כִּי הֵקִים בְּנִי אֶת־עַבְדִּי עָלַי לְאֹרֵב כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה:

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What is happening in Pesukim ו-ח ?

• ​Shaul heard about how David had a large group of supporters who were with David.

• Shaul thought that David was beginning an armed rebellion against him.

• Shaul began yelling at the people who were loyal to Shaul himself! He was convinced that they were in on the plan to overthrow him.

• Shaul says that David is rising up against him. We know this is not true since it is Shaul who has been trying to kill David.​

פסוקים ​ט-י

​ט וַיַּעַן דֹּאֵג הָֽאֲדֹמִי וְהוּא נִצָּב עַל־עַבְדֵֽי־שָׁאוּל וַיֹּאמַר רָאִיתִי אֶת־בֶּן־יִשַׁי בָּא נֹבֶה אֶל־אֲחִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן־אֲחִטֽוּב

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י וַיִּשְׁאַל־לוֹ בַּֽיהֹוָה וְצֵידָה נָתַן לוֹ וְאֵת חֶרֶב גָּלְיָת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי נָתַן לֽו

What is happening in Pesukim ט-י ?

• ​דואג האדומי, who was Shaul's chief servant, mentioned that he noticed David in Nov, the city of Kohanim.

• He adds that​ he saw David talking to Achimelech, the Kohen Gadol and that Achimelech gave David provisions.

• Finally, Doeg tells Shaul that Achimelech the Kohen Gadol gave Goliath's sword to David.

פסוקים ​י״א-י״ג

יא וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ לִקְרֹא אֶת־אֲחִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן־אֲחִיטוּב הַכֹּהֵן וְאֵת כָּל־בֵּית אָבִיו הַכֹּֽהֲנִים אֲשֶׁר בְּנֹב וַיָּבֹאוּ כֻלָּם אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶך 

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יב וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל שְֽׁמַֽע־נָא בֶּן־אֲחִיטוּב וַיֹּאמֶר הִנְנִי אֲדֹנִֽי

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יג וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָו [אֵלָיו] שָׁאוּל לָמָּה קְשַׁרְתֶּם עָלַי אַתָּה וּבֶן־יִשָׁי בְּתִתְּךָ לוֹ לֶחֶם וְחֶרֶב וְשָׁאוֹל לוֹ בֵּֽאלֹהִים לָקוּם אֵלַי לְאֹרֵב כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה ​

What is happening in Pesukim י״א-י״ג ?

• ​שאול sends for Achimelech the Kohen Gadol.

• Shaul ​summons (calls) all of the Kohanim and says to Achimelech, the Kohen Gadol, "Why have you organized against me? You gave David food, a sword, and even asked of Hashem."

  • "asked of Hashem" means that Achimelech asked the Urim V'Tumim on David's behalf and the Urim V'Tumim sent back a positive response.

• According to the Midrash, Doeg knew that Achimelech thought he was supporting Shaul by helping David. He acted in an evil way by making it sound like Achimelech acted rebelliously against Shaul.

Multiple Choice

Who responded to Shaul when he asked about David?

• Achimelech

• Yonatan

• Doeg

• Avner

Multiple Choice

What did Doeg say to Shaul?

• Achimelech gave David a place to stay.

• Achimelech gave David provisions, a sword, and even asked the Urim Vtumim.

• Achimelech even ignored the Urim Vtumim and helped David.

Multiple Choice

Who did Shaul summon after hearing Doeg's report?

• Only Achimelech

• Only Achimelech's father

• All of the Kohanim of the city

• Yonatan, to verify that it was true.

פסוקים ​י״ד - ט״ז

יד וַיַּעַן אֲחִימֶלֶךְ אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמַר וּמִי בְכָל־עֲבָדֶיךָ כְּדָוִד נֶאֱמָן וַֽחֲתַן הַמֶּלֶךְ וְסָר אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתֶּךָ וְנִכְבָּד בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ:

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טו הַיּוֹם הַחִלֹּתִי לִשְׁאָול [לִשְׁאָל] ־לוֹ בֵֽאלֹהִים חָלִילָה לִּי אַל־יָשֵׂם הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּעַבְדּוֹ דָבָר בְּכָל־בֵּית אָבִי כִּי לֹֽא־יָדַע עַבְדְּךָ בְּכָל־זֹאת דָּבָר קָטֹן אוֹ גָדֽוֹל:

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טז וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ מוֹת תָּמוּת אֲחִימֶלֶךְ אַתָּה וְכָל־בֵּית אָבִֽיךָ:​

What is happening in Pesukim י״ד-ט״ז ?

• Achimelech tries to defend himself. ​

• He asks Shual, "Who is more trustworthy to you than David, your son in-law?"

• Achimelech adds, "I have asked the Urim V'Tumim for David ​many times in the past. I would only do so in support of you, Shaul."

• Achimelech concludes by telling Shaul that he had no idea that there was anything going on between Shaul and David. He asks Shaul not to hold him or his family responsible for something he knew nothing about.

• Shaul says that he DOES hold Achimelech responsible and that Achimelech and all of his family must be put to death!"​

Read the next question

CAREFULLY!​

Multiple Choice

Which of the following does Achimelech NOT use as a reason for helping David?

• David is trustworthy.

• David is your son in-law

• I have asked the Urim Vtumim for David many times in the past.

• David lied to me about his secret mission.

Multiple Choice

What does Achimelech request (beg) of Shaul?

• Do not hold the rest of my family responsible. Only I deserve to be punished.

• Do not hold me or may family responsible.

• Please allow us to help you find David to kill him.

Multiple Choice

What punishment does Shaul give to Achmelech and all of the other Kohanim?

• They are to be exiled.

• Achimelech will no longer be Kohen Gadol. The other Kohanim will no longer be Kohanim.

• They are all to be put to death.

• He does not want to punish them, because they did not know any better.

פסוקים ​י״ז-י״ט

יז) וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לָֽרָצִים הַנִּצָּבִים עָלָיו סֹבּוּ וְהָמִיתוּ ׀ כֹּֽהֲנֵי יְהֹוָה כִּי גַם־יָדָם עִם־דָּוִד וְכִי יָֽדְעוּ כִּֽי־בֹרֵחַ הוּא וְלֹא גָלוּ אֶת־אָזְנִו [אָזְנִי] וְלֹֽא־אָבוּ עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ לִשְׁלֹחַ אֶת־יָדָם לִפְגֹעַ בְּכֹֽהֲנֵי יְהֹוָֽה

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  יח) וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְדוֹיֵג [לְדוֹאֵג] סֹב אַתָּה וּפְגַע בַּכֹּֽהֲנִים וַיִּסֹּב דּוֹאֵג הָֽאֲדֹמִי וַיִּפְגַּע־הוּא בַּכֹּֽהֲנִים וַיָּמֶת ׀ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא שְׁמֹנִים וַֽחֲמִשָּׁה אִישׁ נֹשֵׂא אֵפוֹד בָּֽד

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יט) וְאֵת נֹב עִיר־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים הִכָּה לְפִי־חֶרֶב מֵאִישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁה מֵֽעוֹלֵל וְעַד־יוֹנֵק וְשׁוֹר וַֽחֲמוֹר וָשֶׂה לְפִי־חָֽרֶב​

What is happening in Pesukim י״ז-י״ט ?

• Shaul tells to the soldiers who are with him to surround the Kohanim and kill them.

• None of the king's men were willing to kill Kohanim. ​So they did not act on the king's order.

• Since no one else listened to the king he turned to Doeg as if to say, "you accused them of rebelling, you should act on the accusation."​

• Shaul then turned to Doeg and told him to kill the Kohanim.

• ​Doeg killed almost every Kohen of the city of Nov a total of 85 Kohanim.

• Shaul then ordered the full extermination of every living being in Nov. Not only every man, woman, and child​, but even all of the livestock (oxen, goats, donkeys, etc.)

Multiple Choice

Who does Shaul FIRST ask to kill all of the Kohanim of Nov?

• The soldiers who were with him.

• Doeg.

Multiple Choice

Do the soldiers kill the Kohanim?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Why don't the soldiers kill the Kohanim?

• They are afraid that the Kohanim will fight back.

• They are too shocked by the order that they don't understand it.

• They do not want to kill Kohanim of Hashem.

Multiple Choice

Why does Shaul ask Doeg to kill the Kohanim?

• He was the most cruel of Shaul's soldiers.

• He was the one who accused the Kohanim of acting against Shaul.

• He hated all Kohanim because he was jealous of them.

Multiple Choice

Who does Doeg kill from the city of Nov?

• Every living being.

• Only the men.

• All the adults.

פסוקים כ׳-כ״ג

כ וַיִּמָּלֵט בֵּן־אֶחָד לַֽאֲחִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן־אֲחִטוּב וּשְׁמוֹ אֶבְיָתָר וַיִּבְרַח אַֽחֲרֵי דָוִֽד

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כא וַיַּגֵּד אֶבְיָתָר לְדָוִד כִּי הָרַג שָׁאוּל אֵת כֹּֽהֲנֵי יְהֹוָֽה

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כב וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לְאֶבְיָתָר יָדַעְתִּי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כִּֽי־שָׁם דּוֹיֵג [דּוֹאֵג] הָֽאֲדֹמִי כִּֽי־הַגֵּד יַגִּיד לְשָׁאוּל אָֽנֹכִי סַבֹּתִי בְּכָל־נֶפֶשׁ בֵּית אָבִֽיךָ

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כג שְׁבָה אִתִּי אַל־תִּירָא כִּי אֲשֶׁר־יְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־נַפְשִׁי יְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ כִּֽי־מִשְׁמֶרֶת אַתָּה עִמָּדִֽי​

What is happening in Pesukim כ׳-כ״ג ?

• There was one survivor from the massacre in Nov, Aviatar, a son of Achimelech. (He will later become the Kohen Gadol.)

• Aviatar escaped and fled to David to tell him what had happened.

• David says to Aviatar, "I knew that Doeg was going to tell Shaul. I am to blame for every death in your family. It is on me."

• David adds, "Stay with me, Aviatar, since the man who is trying to kill me is also trying to kill you. You are safe with me."

• Even though David would have never expected Shaul and Doeg to be so cruel, he still accepts responsibility for what happened. This is an important lesson for us. We should be willing to accept responsibility , not look to blame others for our actions.

Multiple Choice

Who escaped from Nov?

• Aviatar, son of Achimelech.

• Yoav

• David

Multiple Choice

Where does Aviatar run away to?

• To Bavel

• To David

• To Shmuel

Multiple Choice

What does David say to Aviatar?

• We should blame Shaul.

• We should blame Doeg.

• I am to blame for what happened to your family.