“And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?”
This verse takes place during a time when King Saul is descending into fear, paranoia, and spiritual decline. David, the young man who once served faithfully in Saul’s court, has now fled for his life. God had already rejected Saul as king due to his disobedience, and David was anointed to take his place (1 Samuel 16). As David’s popularity grew, Saul’s jealousy turned into hatred, and he began to view David as a direct threat to his throne.
In 1 Samuel 22:13, Saul is confronting Ahimelech the priest:accusing him of conspiring with David. Saul believes Ahimelech helped David with the intention of enabling David to overthrow him. However, this accusation is not based on truth. Ahimelech had no knowledge of Saul’s anger against David. When David came to him in 1 Samuel 21, he claimed to be on a secret mission from the king, and Ahimelech acted in good faith, giving David food and Goliath’s sword.
The verse reveals Saul’s mental and spiritual state:He refers to David not by name, but as “the son of Jesse”—a dismissive and emotionally charged way of speaking, perhaps intended to belittle David. Saul accuses Ahimelech of three things: giving David bread, giving him a sword, and inquiring of God for him. These were normal acts of support for someone assumed to be in the king’s service. Yet Saul twists them into acts of treason.
The phrase “that he should rise against me, to lie in wait” shows how deeply Saul has fallen into fear:There is no indication that David was plotting an ambush or rebellion. In fact, throughout this period, David shows respect for Saul as God’s anointed king, even refusing to harm him when given the chance (1 Samuel 24 and 26).
Saul’s accusation reveals a tragic pattern:when a leader disconnects from God, he becomes threatened by those who are close to God. Instead of repenting and seeking the Lord, Saul blames others. His jealousy and insecurity lead him to target the innocent. This verse foreshadows the terrible consequence—Saul orders the execution of Ahimelech and the priests of Nob, an act of cruelty that reveals how far Saul has strayed from God’s will.
Lessons from this verse include:
- The danger of spiritual paranoia and unchecked jealousy.
- The cost of standing for what is right, as Ahimelech did unknowingly.
- The contrast between Saul’s fear-driven leadership and David’s faith-driven actions.
This verse reminds us to be careful how we judge others, to seek God honestly, and to trust Him even when misunderstood. It also challenges leaders to remain humble, accountable, and spiritually grounded.
