Doeg the Edomite

Doeg the Edomite was a person in the Books of Samuel. Doeg was the chief shepherd of King Saul.

The Massacre of Nob

When David found out that Saul wanted to kill him, he ran away to Nob and lied to Ahimelech the Chief Kohen. David told him that he was on a secret mission. Ahimelech gave David bread to eat. Doeg happened to be in Nob when this happened. When Doeg found out Saul was looking for David,he told Saul that he had seen the Cohenim in Nob helping David. Saul told his servants to kill the Cohenim of Nob. When they refused to do as Saul asked, he made the requrest of Doeg, who agreed. Doeg killed eighty-five Cohenim along with their wives, children and animals. Abiathar, Ahimelech’s grandson, was the lone survivor. He went to David and told him about the killings. David blamed himself for the deaths because he should have known that Doeg would tell Saul.

Psalms

In Psalms Chapter 52, David sings that G-d will punish people who do evil and reward the good. David says that he sang this after Doeg betrayed Ahimelech.

Midrash

According to the Midrash, Doeg talked Saul into not killing Agag. Doeg convinced Saul that David could never be king because Ruth was from Moab and he told Saul about how much people praised David for killing Goliath, to make Saul jealous. Doeg convinced Saul to make Michal marry Paltiel. Doeg came to Nob. Saul’s generals Abner and Amasa refused to murder the residents of Nod. Doeg did as Saul asked, killing everyone in Nob, except Abiathar who escaped.

Later Jewish Tradition

There are Jewish traditions that Doeg was the “son of an Amalekite” who David beheaded for killing Saul, although there are also some who say it was Doeg’s son.

Doeg the Edomite

Contents

The Massacre of Nob

Psalms

Midrash

Later Jewish Tradition

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