²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,^(A) named Abiathar,^(B) escaped and fled to join David.^{(C) 21} He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg^(D) the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. ²³ Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you^(E) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

⁶ (Now Abiathar^(A) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod^(B) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

⁷ Then David said to Abiathar^(A) the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.^(B)” Abiathar brought it to him,

²² King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag^(A) the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother^(B)—yes, for him and for Abiathar^(C) the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”

²⁶ To Abiathar^(A) the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth.^(B) You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark^(C) of the Sovereign Lord before my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.”^(D)

²⁷ So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling^(A) the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.

⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,