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.
Ver. 7. Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day.] Doeg may set his foot as far within the tabernacle as David, and seem to be as devout: "but God knoweth your hearts," saith our Saviour to the Pharisees, Luk 16:15 and will wash off your paint with rivers of brimstone.
Detained before the Lord.] Either because it was the Sabbath, or by reason of some vow, or for some other religious respect. Some render it Incluserat se ante tabernaculum, he had shut up himself - as a recluse - before the tabernacle; viz., that he might give himself wholly to reading and prayer. A wicked wretch he was, and of ill fame amongst the better sort; and therefore David was very sorry to see him there, 1Sa 22:22 as fearing that he would "carry tales to shed blood." Eze 22:9 A very Judas he was, and a type of Judas Iscariot.
Doeg, an Edomite.] By nation, but an Israelite by profession, as was also Ahimelech the Hittite, 1Sa 26:6 and Jether the Ismaelite. 1 Chronicles 2:17 2 Samuel 17:25 , marg.
The chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.] The Septuagint makes him his mule keeper: the Rabbis say that he was that armourbearer of his that slew him, and himself also with him, 1Sa 31:5 but that is uncertain.