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Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief shepherd, witnessed David receiving help from Ahimelech and later betrayed him to Saul, resulting in the massacre of the priests at Nob.
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Doeg the Edomite was a chief shepherd in the service of King Saul. He first appears in 1Sa.21.7, where he is described as the chief herdsman of Saul and is present at the tabernacle in Nob when David arrives seeking help from the priest Ahimelech.
Later, in 1Samuel 22, Doeg plays a crucial role in the events that follow. When Saul learns that Ahimelech had assisted David, he summons the priests to appear before him. Doeg, being present at the time, informs Saul that he had seen David receiving help from Ahimelech (1Sa.22.9-10).
Acting on Saul's orders, Doeg kills 85 priests who were wearing the linen ephod, as well as the entire city of Nob, including men, women, children, and livestock (1Sa.22.18-19). This massacre highlights Doeg's ruthless obedience to Saul and his willingness to carry out violent acts against innocent people.
Doeg's actions are condemned in Psalm 52, which is attributed to David. The psalm describes Doeg as a deceitful and evil man who loves falsehood and delights in destruction (Psalm 1Sa.52.1-4). The psalmist expresses confidence that God will bring judgment upon Doeg and that the righteous will ultimately prevail (Psalm 1Sa.52.5-9).
Doeg's story serves as an example of the dangers of misplaced loyalty and the consequences of aligning oneself with those who oppose God's chosen leaders. His betrayal of David and his role in the massacre at Nob stand in stark contrast to the faithfulness and righteousness exemplified by David and Ahimelech.
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Fearful, an Edomite, the chief overseer of Saul’s flocks (1 Sam. 21:7). At the command of Saul he slew the high priest Ahimelech (q.v.) at Nob, together with all the priests to the number of eighty-five persons. (Comp. Ps. 52, title.)
(fearful), an Idumean, chief of Saul’s herdmen. (B.C. 1062.) He was at Nob when Ahimelech gave David the sword of Goliath, and not only gave information to Saul, but when others declined the office, himself executed the king’s order to destroy the priests of Nob, with their families, to the number of 85 persons, together with all their property. (1 Samuel 21:7; 22:9,18,22; Psalms 52)
careful, who acts with uneasiness
DO'EG (fearful). See Ahimelech.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
5 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1673
Now one of Saulʼs servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.
But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saulʼs servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your fatherʼs house.
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.