שמואל א, פרק כ״ב, פסוק כ׳

Amidst the terrible slaughter that befell the priests of God, a single survivor emerges. From the entire family of Ahimelech, only his son Abiathar manages to escape the massacre [אברבנאל]. Knowing that King Saul's death sentence hangs over his own head as well, Abiathar flees to find David [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. His goal in seeking out David is to bring him the tragic news of the slaughter that Saul committed against the priests.

The arrival of Abiathar brings deep sadness to David. He takes personal responsibility for the tragedy, recognizing that his own chance presence at the Tabernacle alongside Doeg the Edomite accidentally led to this heavy disaster. Bound by a shared fate, David takes Abiathar under his protection. He explains that since Saul is actively hunting both of them, they must remain together, ensuring that Abiathar will stay safe [אברבנאל].