Skip to main content

    1 Samuel 22 (KJV)

    Read 1 Samuel chapter 22 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    1 Samuel 22

    Explore Topics Related to 1 Samuel 22

    Continue your study with related content from across our library:

    Location

    Cave of Adullam in the Bible

    David's wilderness stronghold — where misfits and outcasts became mighty men of

    Commentary

    1 Samuel 30:6 Commentary

    In-depth study • Encouragement in Crisis

    Location

    Adullam in the Bible

    The cave where David hid from Saul and gathered his band of mighty men.

    Spiritual Warfare

    Angels of the Harvest — Reapers at the End of the World

    At the end of the age, angels are God's reapers — gathering the righteous and se

    Bible Quiz

    1 Samuel Bible Quiz

    Samuel the prophet, Saul the first king, and David the shepherd boy.

    Bible Quiz

    1 Samuel 17 Quiz — David & Goliath

    Test your knowledge of the famous battle between David and Goliath.

    1 Samuel 22 Summary

    1 Samuel 22 records David gathering a band of distressed, indebted, and discontented men at the cave of Adullam, and the tragic massacre of eighty-five priests at Nob by Doeg the Edomite on Saul's order. Only Abiathar escaped and fled to David.

    This chapter reveals the depths of Saul's corruption — murdering God's priests because they unknowingly helped David. Meanwhile, David's band of outcasts foreshadows how Jesus would gather the broken, rejected, and desperate into His kingdom.

    Key Themes

    Gathering the OutcastsSaul's CorruptionMassacre of PriestsForeshadowing Christ

    Key Verses in 1 Samuel 22

    "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."

    — 1 Samuel 22:2

    David's band of misfits foreshadows Jesus, who gathers the broken, outcast, and burdened into His kingdom.

    Life Application

    God specializes in using broken, indebted, and discouraged people. You don't need to be polished to be useful — come to the true King as you are, and let Him transform you.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why did Saul kill the priests?

    Saul considered Ahimelech's help to David as treason, and when his own soldiers refused to kill the priests, the Edomite Doeg carried out the massacre.

    Who came to David at Adullam?

    About 400 men who were distressed, in debt, or discontented — social outcasts who became David's loyal warriors and eventual leaders in his kingdom.

    Read the full summary of 1 Samuel

    Free Bible widgets and more ways to read