Doeg
maleUnited MonarchyMeaning: “Fearful; anxious”
Saul’s Edomite chief herdsman who informed on the priests of Nob and then slaughtered eighty-five of them when Saul’s own men would not.
Biography
Doeg the Edomite was the chief of Saul's herdsmen, a man whose informing and violence make him one of the darkest figures of Saul's court. He happened to be at Nob when the priest Ahimelech, unaware of David's flight from Saul, gave David bread and Goliath's sword (1 Samuel 21:7).
The slaughter at Nob
Doeg reported this to the enraged Saul, who summoned the priests and ordered them killed. When Saul's own footmen refused to lift a hand against the LORD's priests, Doeg did it — striking down eighty-five priests in a single day and destroying the entire priestly town of Nob (1 Samuel 22:18–19). Only Abiathar escaped. David, who had seen Doeg at Nob, took responsibility and sheltered Abiathar; Psalm 52 is David's response to Doeg's treachery.
Life Timeline
Informs Saul that Ahimelech aided David
Slaughters eighty-five priests at Nob
On the Bible timeline
Doeg belongs to the Conquest & the Judges era (c. 1400 – 1050 BC).
- c. 1375 – 1050 BCThe Age of the Judges
Themes & lessons from Doeg
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Doeg appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
5 verses in 2 books1 Samuel4 verses
1 Samuel 21:7
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
1 Samuel 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.
1 Samuel 22:18
And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
1 Samuel 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.
Psalms1 verse
Psalms 52:1
To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Frequently asked about Doeg
Who was Doeg in the Bible?
Saul’s Edomite chief herdsman who informed on the priests of Nob and then slaughtered eighty-five of them when Saul’s own men would not.
What does the name Doeg mean?
The name Doeg means “Fearful; anxious”.
What did Doeg do in the Bible?
Doeg served as saul's chief herdsman.
Where does Doeg appear in the Bible?
Doeg is mentioned 5 times across 2 books: 1 Samuel, Psalms.
What can we learn from Doeg?
The story of Doeg touches on themes of betrayal, nob, ahitub, martyrdom — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Doeg's life.
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