Doeg the Edomite

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Doeg was an Edomite, chief herdsman to Saul, King of Israel. (1 Samuel 21:7) He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible book of First Samuel, in chapters 21 and 22.

David had fled from Saul's jealous anger to the High Priest Ahimelech, where David and his men were fed with the showbread, and David was given the sword of Goliath. Doeg was at Nob and witnessed Ahimelech's service to David.

Later, Saul asked about the whereabouts of David, and his herdsman spoke 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.

However, Doeg omitted to inform King Saul that David had pretended to be on a secret mission on behalf of the king. He did not inform the king that Ahimelech was deceived by David, and that Ahimelech provided support because he thought he was serving the king.

Therefore Saul, with only part of the story, summoned the High Priest and his entire company and, in a rage, ordered them all killed. His officials refused to raise their hands against the priests and Saul turned to Doeg, who 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 later showed remorse for his part in the incident:

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.

Also, see Psalm 52, which David wrote at the time Doeg the Edomite betrayed David's location to Saul.