1 samuel 22:12 - Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.”

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 22:12

What does "1 samuel 22:12" mean?


This verse from 1 Samuel 22:12 is a very small but important part of a tragic event. Here's a breakdown of its meaning and significance:

"Saul said, 'Hear now, you son of Ahitub.'" Saul, the king of Israel, is addressing Ahimelech, the high priest of Nob. Calling him "son of Ahitub" is a way to emphasize his lineage and position within the priestly family. Saul is summoning him to answer for something. The tone is authoritative and potentially accusatory.

"He answered, 'Here I am, my lord.'" Ahimelech's response is respectful and submissive. "Here I am" is a traditional response signifying availability and obedience to a superior. Calling Saul "my lord" acknowledges Saul's position as king.

In Context:

To understand the full meaning, we need to know what happened before and after:

David's Flight: David, who was running from Saul because Saul was jealous and wanted to kill him, had sought refuge in Nob and was helped by Ahimelech. Ahimelech, unaware of David's true situation, gave David consecrated bread to eat and also gave him Goliath's sword.

Doeg's Betrayal: Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's servants, witnessed David's visit to Ahimelech and reported it to Saul.

Saul's Anger: Saul is furious because he believes Ahimelech conspired with David against him, offering aid and comfort to a perceived enemy.

Significance:

This verse is the calm before the storm. It highlights:

Saul's Power and Suspicion: Saul's command shows his absolute power and his growing paranoia, fueled by his insecurity regarding David.
Ahimelech's Naivety and Trust: Ahimelech's respectful response shows that he believes he's being summoned for a legitimate reason and has no idea about the danger he's in.
Impending Tragedy: The politeness of the exchange is chilling because the reader knows that Saul is about to unjustly accuse and condemn Ahimelech and his entire priestly family to death (which he proceeds to order in the subsequent verses). It underscores the tragedy of a righteous and loyal priest being slaughtered based on false accusations.

In summary, this verse is a pivotal moment where a seemingly innocuous exchange precedes a horrific act of violence, fueled by Saul's paranoia and insecurity.

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