Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 22:16
And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.
And the king said, thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech,…. He pronounces the sentence himself, without taking the opinion and advice of others, or further time; which was an act of arbitrary power, and upon an innocent person, which was an act of great injustice:
thou, and all thy father’s house; more unrighteous still; but God suffered him to do this to fulfil his will, and execute his threatenings against the house of Eli, which was this priest’s father’s house, for former wickedness; but this is no excuse for, nor extenuation of the sin of, Saul.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Notwithstanding this truthful assertion of his innocence, Saul pronounced sentence of death, not only upon the high priest, but upon all the priests at Nob, and commanded his , “ runner,” i.e., halberdiers, to put the priests to death, because, as he declared in his wrath, “ their hand is with David (i.e., because they side with David), and because they knew that he fled and did not tell me.” Instead of the Chethibh , it is probably more correct to read , according to the Keri, although the Chethibh may be accounted for if necessary from a sudden transition from a direct to an indirect form of address: “ and (as he said) had not told him.” This sentence was so cruel, and so nearly bordering upon madness, that the halberdiers would not carry it out, but refused to lay hands upon “ the priests of Jehovah.”
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
‘ And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house.”
But Saul was not listening. Ahimelech had admitted offering David help and so he and his whole house must die whether they had intended a conspiracy or not. For by their actions they had specifically injured the sacred person of the king. While this verdict might have been acceptable in a foreign court where such standards applied, it was not seemly for a king of Israel who was supposed to uphold God’s Law. But that is the point that is being made here. Saul was putting himself above God’s Law. He was ignoring all the claims of justice. It will also be noted that there was only one witness. In Israelite law that was insufficient to bring a conviction (Deu 19:15). It may be that Saul would have claimed that Ahimelech was himself the second witness, but in that case it would not have applied to the other priests. And in any case a man could not be convicted on what was not really a confession. Everything is wrong with this verdict. Saul is being shown up as totally unjust.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
(16) And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house. (17) And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. (18) And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. (19) 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.
Observe, the awful height in iniquity to which Saul is now arrived! he calls Ahimelech and his companions Priests of the Lord: and yet dares to lay hands upon them. And observe, the awful character of Doeg: and in him mark the decided hatred in the hearts of all men, by nature, to the children of grace. This man is a lively type of it. But Reader! do not fail to remark, the fulfilment of God’s threatened judgment upon the house of Eli, here visited on the children. See 1Sa 3:11-14 . I do not know anything more awful, than the consideration that the threatenings of the Lord, as well as his promises, must be fulfilled. Jehovah is as truly engaged to the performance of the one, as he is to the other. And what an alarming consideration is the thought, that the days shall come when the wicked shall be driven from the presence of the Lord, with everlasting destruction. 2Th 1:9 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 22:16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.
Ver. 16. Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech. ] A bloody sentence, harshly pronounced and as rashly executed, without any pause or deliberation, without any remorse or regret. This was the worst act that ever Saul did, saith Theoderet: a and a great cause of his destruction, saith Josephus.
a Serm. iii.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Thou shalt: 1Sa 14:44, 1Sa 20:31, 1Ki 18:4, 1Ki 19:2, Pro 28:15, Dan 2:5, Dan 2:12, Dan 3:19, Dan 3:20, Act 12:19
and: Deu 24:16, Est 3:6, Mat 2:16
Reciprocal: Gen 2:17 – surely 1Sa 14:39 – General Ecc 10:13 – beginning
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 22:16-17. Thou shalt surely die, thou and all thy fathers house A cruel resolution; for what had the rest of the priests done to deserve such a bloody execution? The servants of the king would not, &c. In this, undoubtedly, they were praiseworthy; but had been more so had they courageously taken the part of these innocent persons, and remonstrated to Saul against his cruelty, as contrary to all the laws of God and man. And if their reasons and prayers had proved ineffectual, they should have treated this command as the dictate of Sauls melancholy or evil spirit, and have given the priests some opportunity to escape out of his hands, instead of standing tamely to see them fall, contrary to all laws, divine or human, by the hands of a ruffian, the minister of a tyrants cruelty.