Doeg the Edomite

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Doeg, Chief herdsman to King Saul.

This is the incident where David has fled from Saul's jealous anger, to the High Priest Ahimelech, where David and his men are fed with the showbread, and David is given the sword of Goliath.

Doeg is mentioned in the Book of First Samuel, in chapters 21 and 22:

Doeg was at Nob and witnessed Ahimelech's service to David.

1Sa 21:7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

Later, Saul asks about the whereabouts of David, and his herdsman speaks up:

1Sa 22:9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

Doeg doesn't tell the whole story, though. He fails to inform King Saul that David had pretended to be on a secret mission on behalf of the king. He does not inform the king that Ahimelech was deceived by David and that the support Ahimelech provided was because he thought he was serving the king.

Therefore, Saul, with only part of the story, then summons the High Priest and his entire company, and in a rage, orders them all killed. Saul then ordered the death of Ahimelech and 85 priests. His officials refused to raise their hands against the priests and Saul turned to Doeg, who apparently had no problem with doing away with holy men, and Doeg carried out the executions. Saul followed that up with an attack on the city of Nob, the city of the priests, and the families of the priests, men, women, and children, were put to the sword.

David shows remorse:

1Sa 22:22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
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