Aware that David now has a growing group of supporters, Saul is worried about a conspiracy against his life (22:6–10). He knows that Jonathan is a close friend of David’s, and he is afraid that other high officials might have been tempted to defect to David’s side. If any are so inclined, Saul warns them that David is from the tribe of Judah and most of them are from Benjamin: will David give them high positions and valuable property if he becomes king?

To prove his loyalty to Saul, Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s head shepherd, reports what he has seen when David received help from Ahimelek the priest. The implication is that Ahimelek might be the next leader to join David. Armed with this new information, Saul immediately sends for Ahimelek and the rest of the priests (22:11–1…