Vengeance is Mine

by Tim Frankovich

I. Vengeance Conceived

Listen, oh servants of Jehovah, to the tale of a man destroyed by vengeance. Learn from my errors and walk not in my pathways. Learn from the one who knows the destruction and deceit the pathways contain!

I was young and reckless when it all began, but who was not at that age? Still, it was not exactly proper behavior for a priest of the Most High God. My father, Ahimelech, tried to squelch my adventuresome spirit and my dangerous temper, but I never listened to him.

We were at the tabernacle at Nob, the city of the priests. It was a warm summer afternoon and the sun beat down, making my priest's robe and mitre feel more uncomfortable than they normally were. Doeg the Edomite, one of the king's herdsmen, had just come in to offer a lamb as a peace offering. We had just begun when a small band of men entered the tabernacle. They were dusty from travel and appeared quite tired.

Their leader strode forward to meet my father who looked warily at his appearance. As he drew nearer, we all recognized him. It was David, King Saul's right-hand man and son-in-law, hero of the Philistine battles and warrior of renown. It was unusual that he was with such a small band of men; there could not have been over a dozen with him.

Mechanically, I completed Doeg's sacrifice as my father talked with David. Ahimelech turned and walked into the Holy Place. David smiled at us and greeted us in the name of the Lord. I returned his greeting, but Doeg remained silent. I did not like that Edomite. His eyes shifted back and forth, missing nothing.

Presently, Ahimelech returned, carrying, to my shock, the showbread, which was sanctified to the Lord. To my greater shock, he gave the bread to David, who distributed it to his men.

"Is there a sword or a spear here in your keeping?" David asked. "I have not brought my weapons with me since the king's mission required such haste."

"The sword of Goliath the Philistine whom you slew in the valley of Elah is here," Ahimelech answered. "If you want it, you may take it. There is no other weapon here."

"I will take it," David replied, "for there is no weapon like it."

"Fetch the sword for the king's servant," my father told me. "You know where it is."

Indeed, I knew exactly where it was. My father had shown it to me once; and since that time, I had gone back to look at it many times. It was wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. As I returned with it, I noticed Doeg leaving with his portion of the sacrifice.

David unwrapped the sword to examine it. Truly, it was magnificent. There was not a sword in all Israel, nor yet in Philistia, that could match it in either size or craftsmanship. Where Goliath had gotten it, I could not imagine. David could probably wield it one-handed due to his strength and build, but it was probably more effective as a two-handed weapon. While there were no precious metals or gems set upon its hilt, the sword was exquisitely crafted in its simplicity. Due to the cleaning I gave it each time I took it out, it gleamed brightly in the afternoon sun.

David looked momentarily awed. "It has been several years since I saw it last," he declared. "I thank you." Wrapping the sword once again, he rejoined his men and left the tabernacle.

I thought that would be the end of it, but how wrong I was! Soon thereafter, we heard of David's flight from the king's wrath. We knew not what had incurred it, but my father felt that there must be some mistake. He considered sending me to seek counsel from Samuel the prophet, but before plans could be made, the end came.

How can I describe it? How can I endure to repeat the memories? I witnessed it all and yet escaped unscathed. Why did you spare me, oh Most High? I should have died then, with the rest of my household. Hear then, if you will, the destruction of Nob.

Saul came, following David's path as we knew he would. He brought with him a large number of his guards and called all of the priests to meet him outside the city. When we arrived, the first person I recognized was Doeg. He was standing on the king's right.

"Ahimelech, hear me!" Saul ordered. An angry scowl darkened his features.

"Here am I, my lord," my father replied, stepping forward.

Saul towered above him. "Why have you conspired against me, both you and the son of Jesse?" the king accused. "You have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him so that he can rebel against me!"

Ahimelech remained calm. "Who is so faithful among all your servants as David?" he asked. "He is your son-in-law and is present in all your secret councils. Did I begin to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me! I knew nothing of this. Do not blame me nor my household, for they knew not of it either."

The king seethed inwardly. For a moment, he said nothing. Then it came. "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, both you and all your father's house!" He whirled to his guards. "Kill me these priests!" he ordered. "They are in alliance with David and refuse to reveal it to me!"

The guards remained motionless. "Will you not obey me?" he demanded, "You dare to disobey my orders?"

One of the older men gestured helplessly. "They are the priests..." he began.

"Silence!" Saul turned to Doeg. "You! Doeg! Kill them for me!"

The Edomite bowed. "I obey your command, oh king." He drew his sword and walked up to Ahimelech, who stood his ground.

The sword flashed so quickly, I almost failed to see it. I saw my father fall to the ground in a pool of his own blood. The mitre fell from his head and rolled away. He lifted his head slowly. "The Lord forgive you, Doeg," he gasped. Then I saw my father die.

Doeg turned to the next priest and cut him down. None of the priests carried weapons or any object with which to defend themselves. They were like so many sheep unable to prevent themselves from being slaughtered.

I fled. I do not understand how they failed to see me; the Lord must have been protecting me. Once I reached the cover of the woods, I turned to see what was taking place. I wish to God I had not.

Doeg did not stop with the priests. He turned to the city of Nob. Before he was through, every man, woman, and child in the city had been brutally massacred. Even the animals were cut down before the flying sword of the murderer. Through it all, Saul merely stood and watched. I was sick to my stomach. I vomited two or three times and wept bitterly even with the taste of the bile in my mouth. How could this man be so cruel? Doeg slaughtered all my family and friends! Not one survived, save myself.

After the initial shock had worn off later that night, I could see but one path ahead of me. I must go to David. If Saul and Doeg knew I had survived, they would hunt me down. I am sure Saul wanted no witnesses of this incident. With a few well-placed bribes, he could blame the whole thing on the Philistines.

When the soldier left, I returned to the tabernacle. Taking the ephod with the urim and the thummim, I set out in search of David.

I found him at Masada. David met me in private and listened to my story with grim features inscribed on his face. I concluded with the words from the ancient book of Job: "and I alone am escaped to tell thee."

Finally, he spoke. "I knew from the moment I saw Doeg there that he would surely tell Saul," David admitted, turning away. "I have occasioned the death of all the people of Nob and your father's house. I am sorry."

Sorry? How could that erase what was done? I felt like screaming. The only way in which the scales could be balanced would be with the deaths of Saul and Doeg!

"Stay with me," David invited. "The one who seeks your life seeks mine, as well. You will be safe with me. I see you brought the ephod. That is well; you shall be our priest."

"Priest I may be," I replied, biting my tongue in anger, "but more than that." I took up a sword from the array of weapons against the wall and knelt at David's feet. "Until you are king, I will be one of your warriors, as well. The enemies of my lord will be my enemies. I will fight!"

And I swore to myself, as I knelt there, that those enemies would one day be Saul and Doeg. Thus, the seed of revenge was sown in my heart.