The Slaughter of Nob

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People. David had to be careful. He had to be clever. As he trudged through the hills outside Knob, a wisp of smoke caught his eye. The temple of Ahimelek. 00:00:15 Speaker 2: Young David, it's peculiar to see you at such an hour and alone. No less Ah, I am on an urgent mission from the King. 00:00:26 Speaker 1: The lies filled out of David's mouth before he had time to regret it. His lips tasted of ash. 00:00:34 Speaker 2: Then may the Lord bless you and keep you young David. You are a protector of Israel, and you deserve to be fed. This is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine, your sword you wounded that day in the valley of Elah. We took great care of it, knowing it was a reminder of the faithfulness of our God. Thank you for your kindness for everything. 00:01:01 Speaker 1: With that, he took his leave, stepping out into the cold night, gripping a torch in one hand and the basket of bread in the other. Doeg the Edomite leaned lazily against the wooden fence, his expression unreadable as he watched David disappear into the hills. His gaze flicked back toward the temple, where Ahimelek and his priests remained inside, blissfully unaware of what their kindness would cost them. 00:01:38 Speaker 3: Shallo, my friends, from here in the holy Land of Israel, i'm ya l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through Israel's story, we will find this truth that we are all chosen for something great. So take a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're feeling extra grateful for these stories, we would love it if you left us a review. I read every single one of them, and if you're interested in hearing more about the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you can visit IFCJ dot Org. Let's begin. 00:02:28 Speaker 4: Film the top. 00:02:30 Speaker 1: All of Saul's voice ripped through the camp like a blade through silk. His spear swung wildly in his hand, the point flashing each time the torchlight caught it. Beneath the tamarisk tree, his servants knelt, their faces pressed to the dirt. Saul paced like a wolf around a carcass, his fingers flexed and unflexed along the shaft of his spear. 00:03:00 Speaker 5: A peasant son of Jesse has had your manhood clutched in his fists all this time, hasn't he? 00:03:09 Speaker 6: He turned you all against me. 00:03:12 Speaker 7: You whisper to him behind my back. 00:03:15 Speaker 8: Feed him secrets, betray your own king for a shepherd boy. 00:03:23 Speaker 1: Saul swung at a low hanging branch, striking once, trice thrice, until the woods splintered and fell. He shouted a guttural sound from deep in his chest, and then turned the tip of his spear toward his men. Will that boy gift you vineyards and silver? 00:03:45 Speaker 9: Will? 00:03:47 Speaker 5: Is it's David who will make you lords of this land? 00:03:54 Speaker 4: He drape you in purple and gold, make you commanders of thousands. 00:04:01 Speaker 5: And let you ride beside him when he takes my throne. 00:04:08 Speaker 1: One of the elders old and bent, lifted his trembling hands. 00:04:13 Speaker 10: Oh, my king, oh you unloyal every man here bends his knee to you. 00:04:20 Speaker 1: Soul lung, start seizing the elder by the cloak. The old man's feet left the ground, and his breath came in shallow gasps. Saul's grip was iron, his arms trembling with the effort not to drive the spear straight through the man's gut. 00:04:39 Speaker 5: Go loyal, loyal man would have told me that my old son plots trees and beneath my roof loyal men. What not, let Jonavan stir up rebellion. 00:04:57 Speaker 4: For the why scheming her fast? Loyal men would have brought me that bastard son of JESSI. 00:05:10 Speaker 9: By now. 00:05:12 Speaker 1: The elder's eyes were wide with terror. Soul pressed the spearhead to his throat. Just shithe the skin. 00:05:21 Speaker 7: I hear his numbers grow by the day, more than six hundred men now rally to him. 00:05:32 Speaker 4: Six hundred. 00:05:36 Speaker 9: Does a boy gather an army alone? 00:05:39 Speaker 8: No? 00:05:40 Speaker 7: He has help. 00:05:42 Speaker 5: He has traitors feeding him. From my own table. 00:05:49 Speaker 1: The camp was silent save for the wind whistling through the tamarisk leaves. Then a voice, calm, smooth and venomous, spoke from the rear of the gathering. 00:06:02 Speaker 8: You have one servant, my king, who still knows how to be useful. 00:06:07 Speaker 1: The men parted without being told, and doeg the eder might stepped forward. He was long, lind and thin, a serpent of a man with a smile that never reached his eyes. He bowed low, too low, and when he stood, his smile widened. 00:06:27 Speaker 8: My gracious king, I have seen first hand who conspires with the son of Jesse. 00:06:34 Speaker 1: Saul's grip eased on the elder's cloak, and the old man slid to the ground. 00:06:41 Speaker 9: Speak, doig, what have you seen? 00:06:46 Speaker 6: I have birds everywhere, good king, eyes and ears fluttering about sharing whispers. My birds told me that the son of Jesse venture to knob. I telled him there in the altars of a Himelach saw David with my own eyes. He sought refuge there and there he was giving bread, provisions, and even a weapon. 00:07:11 Speaker 9: What weapon? 00:07:14 Speaker 1: Dogs? Smile was all teeth, he enjoyed secrets. Each was a morsel to be savored. 00:07:22 Speaker 6: Sword of Goliath. 00:07:25 Speaker 1: Saul's hands shook so fiercely that the spear rattled, His breath came in short bursts, and the vein at his temple pulsed like a drum. 00:07:35 Speaker 9: Even the priests turn against me. 00:07:38 Speaker 6: They raised their hands to bless the traitor. This is Samuel's doing. 00:07:46 Speaker 5: They conspire in the house of God to overthrow God's annoying heed. Bring Amelek and every priest in knot, bind them in chains and drag them here before me. 00:07:59 Speaker 1: The officers exchanged wary glances, but none dared refuse him. One by one, they mounted their horses and rode toward knob Ahimelek and his students were dragged into Saul's throne room. Blood already crusted along the priest's brow, and his lips split wide from the hands that had yanked him from his bed. His robes were torn at the hem, stained with dirt and the sweat of fear. The priests stood together, hands bound, their bare feet, shivering on the cold stone floor. A great fire burned at the center of the room, its flames casting twisting shadows across the walls. Saw loomed above them on his throne, his spear tapping a slow rhythm against the wood. Each sound gnawed at Ahimelek's nerves. 00:08:58 Speaker 9: Er himmler, some mamm heat ahem. 00:09:06 Speaker 1: Alex swallowed hard, the taste of iron in his mouth. 00:09:11 Speaker 2: Yes, my King, I am here. 00:09:14 Speaker 1: The king leaned forward, fingers curled tight around the sphere. His eyes were dark pits, hollowed out by sleepless nights, and gnawed roar by his own madness. 00:09:27 Speaker 9: Why did you do it? 00:09:29 Speaker 5: Er him alike? 00:09:31 Speaker 2: I beg your pardon, my king, Why have I done what? 00:09:36 Speaker 4: Don't play dumb, priest, I know you have conspired against me. 00:09:43 Speaker 1: The priest's mouth opened, but the word stuck to his tongue like ash. Saul continued, You sheltered. 00:09:52 Speaker 9: The sun of Jesse. 00:09:54 Speaker 7: You give him bread, give him fire, give him a sword, sort of. 00:10:01 Speaker 2: Co lion king, swamow. He is your servant. 00:10:05 Speaker 9: He came in your name. 00:10:07 Speaker 6: Do you take me for a pool? 00:10:09 Speaker 8: Do you? 00:10:11 Speaker 1: Saul swung his spear sideways, sending a lamppost flying onto the floor. Oils spilled and ripples of flames danced on the cobbled floor. The flames turned blue from the mixture of oils in the stone. Saul's eyes radiated with intensity. 00:10:31 Speaker 9: My I knew nothing of this. 00:10:35 Speaker 11: Who in all your house has been as royal as David? 00:10:38 Speaker 2: Is he not your son? 00:10:39 Speaker 9: My marriage? 00:10:41 Speaker 2: Did you not name him captain of your guard when he came to be a I thought he was your most trusted man. 00:10:48 Speaker 6: How could I have known that it's iron and he was a fugitive? 00:10:52 Speaker 7: Why all lies? 00:10:58 Speaker 5: You priests love to hide behind holy. 00:11:02 Speaker 9: Words, But I see through the veil. 00:11:08 Speaker 5: You're just like Samuel. 00:11:10 Speaker 10: You don't claim to be for the nation, but you've been. 00:11:14 Speaker 4: Corupted by the siren songs of David contrayers, every last one of you. 00:11:21 Speaker 1: Saul's muscles rippled with rage, the veins in his neck nearly tore out from his skin. 00:11:28 Speaker 5: Surround these false face. 00:11:31 Speaker 1: His guards obeyed, forming a ring of steel around the trembling men. Saul's hands shot into the air. 00:11:39 Speaker 5: Kill them all but the wars of his house. Remember what it means to betray the anointed king. 00:11:45 Speaker 1: But no one moved. The gods stood still, swords in hand, yet none raised a blade. They looked at one another, unwilling to be the first to spill the blood of priests. 00:12:01 Speaker 7: Here was the dark, I said, kill. 00:12:05 Speaker 1: Them still, The men remained still. It was the same as when he had accused Jonathan. He had the men's fear that they wouldn't cross that line. Then Saul turned to doeg who stood at his side like a loyal hound waiting for a scrap. 00:12:25 Speaker 5: Want to prove your loyalty? 00:12:26 Speaker 1: Eager do eggs smile slithered across his face, thin and sharp. He took the offered sword without hesitation. The polished steel, catching the firelight. Saul stepped down close enough for a heeme elect to smell the wine on his breath. 00:12:49 Speaker 9: Pray, aw, you what pray until you're five? Doesn't mad? I have found blood to be fickle and death in these. 00:13:17 Speaker 1: Ohs ahime aloud, closed his eyes, lips moving silently. In one last prayer, doe Egg showed no mercy. The sword cut fast and deep, splitting skin and sinew, until the priest collapsed to the floor, his blood rushing out like spilled wine. The other priests screamed, but their bonds held tight. Do Egg moved through them like a butcher at work, his blade swinging left and right. Their blood painted the floor, pooling at Saul's feet. Eighty five priests died that night, each one cut down in their linen robes, their prayers swallowed by steel. All except one Abiathar a Heemelech's sun flinched as Doig's blade came down. He missed his neck and sliced through his bonds. Instead, he bolted his feet, slipping on the blood soaked stones. Saul's spear whistled past his ear, embedding itself in the wooden frame of the winow as Abiathar leaped through it, vanishing into the night. 00:14:35 Speaker 9: Let him go. 00:14:37 Speaker 1: Saul's voice was cold and empty. He stepped down from the dais sandals, squelching in blood. He wrinkled his nose and wiped the gore from his foot with the hem of a dead man's robe. 00:14:52 Speaker 9: I am not done yet. 00:14:55 Speaker 1: He turned to Doeg, whose face was slick with sweat and splattered red. 00:15:03 Speaker 9: Gather men, men who fear me more than they fear the heavens, find hired swords. If you must go to nob culle every man, every woman, every child, leave not a single soul alive, not even the babes at the breast. 00:15:32 Speaker 7: Tear at them asunder. 00:15:35 Speaker 5: I want their screams to pierce the threshold of heaven. Maybe then God will hear me and answer. 00:15:45 Speaker 1: The order fell from his lips like a curse from Hell itself. Doe Egg bowed low, smiling still, and left to carry out the slaughter. Before dawn, the streets of Gnobor and read homes were said to the torch. Children were dragged screaming from their beds. Mothers lay dead with infants in their arms. The priests had been the first to die, but the lord's house was not spared. Blood soaked the altar itself. The cries of the innocent echoed in the heavens, but Saul heard nothing but silence. The King of Israel had become the enemy of his god. Abiathar ran through the dark, his breath ragged, his robes torn to filthy ribbons by thorn and branch. His lungs were iron heavy and unrelenting, and with each step the fire in his chest burned hotter. Blood slicked his heels where sharp rocks had torn the skin. The boy stumbled, but did not fall. He couldn't, not until he found David. The sky above the forest of Herath was black as pitch, clouds pressing low against the tree tops, suffocating the stars. In the distance. Scattered fires flickered, small and uncertain against the vast dark. Abiathar's heart leaped at the sight. The caves of Adullam were behind him, but this, this had to be David's new camp. He took one step forward, and cold iron kissed his throat. Two spears crossed before him, their tips glinting red with firelight. 00:17:39 Speaker 6: Not another step, Speak your name, and speak it. 00:17:42 Speaker 1: Softly, Abiathar raised his trembling hands. 00:17:47 Speaker 2: Please, I need to speak with David. 00:17:50 Speaker 9: What makes you think David's here. 00:17:53 Speaker 6: I'm no spy, David's my friend. 00:17:55 Speaker 10: I swear I'm the son of a Himelech, the priest of na O god Sos killed them, Oh, he's killed them all. 00:18:07 Speaker 1: The guards exchanged a look. Guilt hung between them like fog. Slowly they lowered their spears. One of them knelt a broad shouldered man with dark hair tied back and a smile too warm for a night so cold. You've come a long way, haven't you come. 00:18:27 Speaker 9: I'll bring you into camp. My name is Uriah a Hatti. It would be my honor to carry you to our fire and fill your belly. 00:18:35 Speaker 1: Aviathar was too exhausted to argue. Uriah hefted him up as if the boy weighed nothing, carrying him down into the camp, where men huddled close to their fires, sharpening blades and mending armor. They were outlaws, but they carried themselves with the grim confidence of soldiers. Uriah set Aviathar down by a copper pot that steamed with broth. He ladled out a bowl and pressed it into the boy's hands. Wait here, Abiathar nodded, though his hands shook so badly that broth sloshed over the side of the bowl. He sipped anyway, scalding his tongue. His mind drifted back to the throne room, slick with blood. Back to his father's throat yawning open. Back to Saul's eyes gleaming with madness. The stew was bitter in his mouth. Her shadow fell over him. Abiathar flinched. The voice was gentle, familiar. Abiathar twisted around and saw David standing over him. His hair tangled, his cloak frayed, his eyes dark with worry. The boy dropped the bowl and leaped to his feet. 00:19:56 Speaker 10: David, he killed them, all the priests, knob all of them. My father, Ah, I saw him far, I saw the sword cut his through. 00:20:13 Speaker 1: His voice broke, swallowed by sobs. David caught him, arms wrapping around the boy like a shield. 00:20:22 Speaker 10: I'm so sorry, God help me, I'm so sorry. 00:20:30 Speaker 1: Aviathar's tears soaked into David's cloak. The smell of smoke and damp wool filled the boy's nostrils, mingling with blood and broth and grief. David's hands shook as they held him the weight of his own guilt pressed down on him like Saul's spear. Missus, I'm too rag treading woods. 00:20:57 Speaker 6: My sins put him in the path of the king madness. 00:21:02 Speaker 1: He knelt his face level with the boys and looked him in the eye. 00:21:07 Speaker 11: But hear me now, abyetha son of Ahimelech. From this moment forward, you are mine. 00:21:16 Speaker 6: You live under my protection. 00:21:19 Speaker 11: Eat from my fire, asleep beneath my roof, such as it is. And if any man can sin, lowliest wretch lays a hand on you, I swear by the Lord who made me, I will kill him myself. 00:21:35 Speaker 1: The boy fell into David's arms again, trembling with grief and relief alike. Overhead, the clouds thickened heavy with rain, and the skies grumbled like distant drums of war. David lifted his face to the heavens. No stars shone through the clouds. The world itself seemed to hold its breath, But deep inside him, in a place only God could see, her storm had begun to stir. David's heart was changing. He had been a shepherd, her son, a servant. But now now David would become a sword. 00:22:26 Speaker 3: If your faith has been kindled by this podcast and it has affected your life. We'd love it if you left her of view. We read them, and me personally, I cherish them as you venture forth boldly and faithfully. I leave you with the biblical blessing from numbers six IV Hashem vishmerechra Yeah Heir hashempanavele y sa hashemple. 00:22:55 Speaker 1: Shalon. 00:22:56 Speaker 3: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine you. May he be gracious to you, Made the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. Amen. 00:23:09 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot Com app today. This prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robbin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review,