1 Then came H935 David H1732 to Nob H5011 to Ahimelech H288 the priest: H3548 and Ahimelech H288 was afraid H2729 at the meeting H7125 of David, H1732 and said H559 unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man H376 with thee?
2 And David H1732 said H559 unto Ahimelech H288 the priest, H3548 The king H4428 hath commanded H6680 me a business, H1697 and hath said H559 unto me, Let no man H376 know H3045 any thing H3972 of the business H1697 whereabout I send H7971 thee, and what I have commanded H6680 thee: and I have appointed H3045 my servants H5288 to such H6423 and such H492 a place. H4725
3 Now therefore what is H3426 under thine hand? H3027 give H5414 me five H2568 loaves of bread H3899 in mine hand, H3027 or what there is present. H4672
4 And the priest H3548 answered H6030 David, H1732 and said, H559 There is no common H2455 bread H3899 under mine hand, H3027 but there is H3426 hallowed H6944 bread; H3899 if the young men H5288 have kept H8104 themselves at least H389 from women. H802
5 And David H1732 answered H6030 the priest, H3548 and said H559 unto him, Of a truth H518 women H802 have been kept H6113 from us about these three H8032 days, H8543 since I came out, H3318 and the vessels H3627 of the young men H5288 are holy, H6944 and the bread is in a manner H1870 common, H2455 yea, though it were sanctified H6942 this day H3117 in the vessel. H3627
6 So the priest H3548 gave H5414 him hallowed H6944 bread: for there was no bread H3899 there but the shewbread, H3899 H6440 that was taken H5493 from before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to put H7760 hot H2527 bread H3899 in the day H3117 when it was taken away. H3947
7 Now a certain man H376 of the servants H5650 of Saul H7586 was there that day, H3117 detained H6113 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 and his name H8034 was Doeg, H1673 an Edomite, H130 the chiefest H47 of the herdmen H7462 that belonged to Saul. H7586
8 And David H1732 said H559 unto Ahimelech, H288 And is there H3426 not H371 here under thine hand H3027 spear H2595 or sword? H2719 for I have neither brought H3947 my sword H2719 nor my weapons H3627 with me, H3027 because the king's H4428 business H1697 required H1961 haste. H5169
9 And the priest H3548 said, H559 The sword H2719 of Goliath H1555 the Philistine, H6430 whom thou slewest H5221 in the valley H6010 of Elah, H425 behold, it is here wrapped H3874 in a cloth H8071 behind H310 the ephod: H646 if thou wilt take H3947 that, take H3947 it: for there is no other H312 save H2108 that here. H2088 And David H1732 said, H559 There is none like that; give H5414 it me.
10 And David H1732 arose, H6965 and fled H1272 that day H3117 for fear H6440 of Saul, H7586 and went H935 to Achish H397 the king H4428 of Gath. H1661
11 And the servants H5650 of Achish H397 said H559 unto him, Is not this David H1732 the king H4428 of the land? H776 did they not sing H6030 one to another of him H2088 in dances, H4246 saying, H559 Saul H7586 hath slain H5221 his thousands, H505 and David H1732 his ten thousands? H7233
12 And David H1732 laid up H7760 these words H1697 in his heart, H3824 and was sore H3966 afraid H3372 of H6440 Achish H397 the king H4428 of Gath. H1661
13 And he changed H8138 his behaviour H2940 before H5869 them, and feigned himself mad H1984 in their hands, H3027 and scrabbled H8427 on the doors H1817 of the gate, H8179 and let his spittle H7388 fall down H3381 upon his beard. H2206
14 Then said H559 Achish H397 unto his servants, H5650 Lo, ye see H7200 the man H376 is mad: H7696 wherefore then have ye brought H935 him to me?
15 Have I need H2638 of mad men, H7696 that ye have brought H935 this fellow to play the mad man H7696 in my presence? shall this fellow come H935 into my house? H1004
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 21
Commentary on 1 Samuel 21 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 21
1Sa 21:1-7. David, at Nob, Obtains of Ahimelech Hallowed Bread.
1. Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech—Nob, a city of the priests (1Sa 22:19), was in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives—a little north of the top, and on the northeast of the city. It is computed to have been about five miles distant from Gibeah. Ahimelech, the same as Ahiah, or perhaps his brother, both being sons of Ahitub (compare 1Sa 14:3, with 1Sa 22:4-11, 20). His object in fleeing to this place was partly for the supply of his necessities, and partly for comfort and counsel, in the prospect of leaving the kingdom.
Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David—suspecting some extraordinary occurrence by his appearing so suddenly, and in such a style, for his attendants were left at a little distance.
2. The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know—This was a direct falsehood, extorted through fear. David probably supposed, like many other persons, that a lie is quite excusable which is told for the sole purpose of saving the speaker's life. But what is essentially sinful, can never, from circumstances, change its immoral character; and David had to repent of this vice of lying (Ps 119:29).
4. there is hallowed bread—There would be plenty of bread in his house; but there was no time to wait for it. "The hallowed bread" was the old shew-bread, which had been removed the previous day, and which was reserved for the use of the priests alone (Le 24:9). Before entertaining the idea that this bread could be lawfully given to David and his men, the high priest seems to have consulted the oracle (1Sa 22:10) as to the course to be followed in this emergency. A dispensation to use the hallowed bread was specially granted by God Himself.
5. these three days—as required by law (Ex 19:15). David and his attendants seem to have been lurking in some of the adjoining caves, to elude pursuit, and to have been, consequently, reduced to great extremities of hunger.
the bread is in a manner common—that is, now that it is no longer standing on the Lord's table. It is eaten by the priests, and may also, in our circumstances, be eaten by us.
yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel—that is, though the hallowed bread had been but newly placed on the vessel, the ritual ordinance would have to yield to the great law of necessity and mercy (see on Mt 12:3; also see Mr 2:25; Lu 6:3).
6. there was no bread there—in the tabernacle. The removal of the old and the substitution of the new bread was done on the Sabbath (Le 24:8), the loaves being kept warm in an oven heated the previous day.
7. Doeg, an Edomite—who had embraced the Hebrew religion.
detained before the Lord—at the tabernacle, perhaps, in the performance of a vow, or from its being the Sabbath, which rendered it unlawful for him to prosecute his journey.
the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul—Eastern monarchs anciently had large possessions in flocks and herds; and the office of the chief shepherd was an important one.
1Sa 21:9. He Takes Goliath's Sword.
9. sword of Goliath—(See on 1Sa 17:54).
behind the ephod—in the place allowed for keeping the sacred vestments, of which the ephod is mentioned as the chief. The giant's sword was deposited in that safe custody as a memorial of the divine goodness in delivering Israel.
There is none like that—not only for its size and superior temper, but for its being a pledge of the divine favor to him, and a constant stimulus to his faith.
1Sa 21:10-15. At Gath He Feigns Himself Mad.
10. David … fled … to Achish the king of Gath—which was one of the five principalities of the Philistines. In this place his person must have been known, and to venture into that country, he their greatest enemy, and with the sword of Goliath in his hand, would seem to have been a perilous experiment; but, doubtless, the protection he received implies that he had been directed by the divine oracle. Achish was generous (1Sa 27:6). He might wish to weaken the resources of Saul, and it was common in ancient times for great men to be harbored by neighboring princes.
13. feigned himself mad—It is supposed to have been an attack of epilepsy, real or perhaps only pretended. This disease is relieved by foaming at the mouth.
let his spittle fall down upon his beard—No wonder that Achish supposed him insane, as such an indignity, whether done by another, or one's self, to the beard, is considered in the East an intolerable insult.