Doeg דֹּאֵג
Edomite chief shepherd who betrayed David to Saul
Who is Doeg in the Bible?
Doeg the Edomite was a chief shepherd in King Saul's service who betrayed David to the king, with devastating consequences. When David fled to the tabernacle at Nob seeking help from the priest Ahimelech, Doeg witnessed the encounter (1 Samuel 21:7). Later, Doeg informed Saul that Ahimelech had assisted David, and when Saul ordered retaliation, Doeg carried out the brutal massacre of eighty-five priests and destroyed the entire city of Nob, including its women, children, and animals (1 Samuel 22:9-19). His actions represent a pivotal moment of violence in David's early flight from Saul, and Psalm 52 records David's condemnation of Doeg's treachery, making him a biblical symbol of the destructive consequences of betrayal and misplaced loyalty to a tyrant.
Biography
Doeg the Edomite was a chief shepherd in the service of King Saul. He first appears in 1Sa.21.7, where he is described as the chief herdsman of Saul and is present at the tabernacle in Nob when David arrives seeking help from the priest Ahimelech.
Later, in 1 Samuel 22, Doeg plays a crucial role in the events that follow. When Saul learns that Ahimelech had assisted David, he summons the priests to appear before him. Doeg, being present at the time, informs Saul that he had seen David receiving help from Ahimelech (1Sa.22.9-10).
Acting on Saul's orders, Doeg kills 85 priests who were wearing the linen ephod, as well as the entire city of Nob, including men, women, children, and livestock (1Sa.22.18-19). This massacre highlights Doeg's ruthless obedience to Saul and his willingness to carry out violent acts against innocent people.
Doeg's actions are condemned in Psalm 52, which is attributed to David. The psalm describes Doeg as a deceitful and evil man who loves falsehood and delights in destruction (Psalm 1Sa.52.1-4). The psalmist expresses confidence that God will bring judgment upon Doeg and that the righteous will ultimately prevail (Psalm 1Sa.52.5-9).
Doeg's story serves as an example of the dangers of misplaced loyalty and the consequences of aligning oneself with those who oppose God's chosen leaders. His betrayal of David and his role in the massacre at Nob stand in stark contrast to the faithfulness and righteousness exemplified by David and Ahimelech.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study content1 Samuel 4 verses
- 1 Samuel 21:7
"Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul."
- 1 Samuel 22:9
"But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob."
- 1 Samuel 22:18
"So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod."
- 1 Samuel 22:22
"Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house."
Psalms 1 verse
- Psalms 52:1
"Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long."
Study Psalms →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | דֹּאֵג | Doeg , an Edomite |
Doeg
sts at Nob. The position he held is described as that of "the mightiest" of Samuel's herdsmen (1Sa 21:7 margin). Septuagint reads: "tending the mules." Rabbinical legends speak of him as the greatest scholar of his time. The traditional title of Ps 52 associates the composition of that Psalms with the events that led to the slaying of the priests (1Sa 21:7; 22:9,18,22).
Nathan Isaacs
kelebh; (compare Arabic kelb, "dog"); kuon; (and diminutive kunarion): References to the dog, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, are usually of a contemptuous character. A dog, and especially a dead dog,