1 Samuel 22:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

NIV: All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

NASB: Then everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Now there were about four hundred men with him.

CSB: In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

NLT: Then others began coming — men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented — until David was the captain of about 400 men.

KJV: And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

NKJV: And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

First Samuel 22:1–5 describes how David somewhat accidentally raises an army. He had fled from King Saul, leaving his wife and best friend behind. After quick stops to Abimelech the priest and a Philistine city, he finds himself hiding in a cave (1 Samuel 19:11—21:15). Before long, his father's household and 400 disgruntled men have joined him. David is safe, but soon he'll discover the cost of his lie to Abimelech (1 Samuel 22:6–23).

In 1 Samuel 22, David hides at the cave of Adullam and is joined by his family and about 400 men. He leaves his parents at Moab and takes refuge in the forest of Hereth. Meanwhile, Saul accuses his servants of siding with David against him. Doeg the Edomite reports that Ahimelech the priest gave David provisions at the tabernacle. Saul summons Ahimelech and accuses him of being part of David's conspiracy. Refusing to listen to Ahimelech's defense, Saul orders him and all the priests, people, and animals of Nob killed. One priest escapes and reports the events to David.

In 1 Samuel 22, David's rift with Saul deepens. David had escaped Saul and tricked the priest Ahimelech into giving him provisions (1 Samuel 21:1–9). After a foolish stop in Gath (1 Samuel 21:10–15), David hides in the cave of Adullam and accidentally raises an army. Meanwhile, Saul learns of David's interaction with Ahimelech. Enraged, Saul orders the entire city of Nob destroyed. One priest escapes and tells David who takes responsibility. With an army to fight and a priest to provide wisdom, David is ready to start his career as a mercenary (1 Samuel 23).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.