²⁰ But ^(A)one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, ^(B)escaped and fled after David. ²¹ Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when ^(C)Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought about the death of every person in your father’s household. ²³ Stay with me; do not be afraid, for ^(D)he who seeks my life seeks your life, for you are ^[a]safe with me.”

²⁶ Then to Abiathar the priest the king said, “^(A)Go to Anathoth to your own field, ^(B)for you ^[a]deserve to die; but I will not put you to death at this time, because ^(C)you carried the ark of the Lord ^[b]God before my father David, and because ^(D)you were afflicted in everything with which my father was afflicted.”

^35 (A)The king appointed Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and the king appointed ^(B)Zadok the priest ^(C)in the place of Abiathar.