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Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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Dohrn, Johann Albert Bernhard

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Dolben, John (1), D.D.

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(Hebrews Doeg', דֹּאֵג, fearful, 1 Samuel 21:7, Sept. Δωήγ v.r. Δωήκ; or דּוֹאֵג, Psalms 52, title, Sept. Δωήκ; in 1 Samuel 22:18; 1 Samuel 22:22, Doyeg', דּוֹיֵג, after the Syrian pronunciation, Sept. Δωήγ ), an Edomite, and chief overseer of king Saul's flocks (Josephus, Δώηκος, "keeper of the king's mules," Ant. 6:12, 1), which is an important trust in Oriental courts. B.C. 1062. At Nob he was witness of the assistance which the high-priest Ahimelech seemed to afford to the fugitive David, by furnishing him with the sword of Goliath, and by supplying him with bread even from the sacred table (1 Samuel 21:7). Of this he failed not to inform the king, who, regardless of the explanation offered by Ahimelech, and finding that the chiefs censured him and hesitated to lay their hands upon a person so sacred, commanded Doeg to slay him and his priests (to the number of 85 persons), and to destroy all their families and property — a task which was executed with equal readiness and cruelty by the Edomite (1 Samuel 22:18 sq.). This truculent act called forth one of David's most severe imprecative prayers (Psalms 52), of which divine and human justice seem alike to have required the fulfillment. (See DAVID); (See PSALMS). A question has arisen on the nature of the business by which he was ' detained before the Lord" (נֶעְצָר, Sept. συνεχόμενος Νεεσσαράν; Vulgate, intus in tabernaculo Domini). The difficulty which lies in the idea that Doeg was a foreigner, and so incapable of a Nazarite vow (Mischn. de Votis. 9:1, Surenh.), has been explained by the supposition that he was a proselyte, attending under some vow or some act of purification at the Tabernacle (compare 1 Samuel 20:18). Thenius (Kurzg. exeg. handb. in loc.) has corrected Gesenius's interpretation (Thesaur. page 1059) of the phrase as meaning "was assembled before Jehovah." Ephrem Syrus (Opp. 1:376) explains the term as merely indicating that Doeg had introduced himself there secretly, whether by right or otherwise. With this agrees Fü rst's rendering (Hebr. Handw. page 175), that he had tarried behind (zuruickbleiben) as a spy.