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
But G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Have ye G314 not G3756 read G314 what G5101 David G1138 did, G4160 when G3753 he G846 was an hungred, G3983 and G2532 they G3326 that were with him; G846 How G4459 he entered into G1525 G1519 the house G3624 of God, G2316 and G2532 did eat G5315 the shewbread, G740 G4286 which G3739 was G2258 not G3756 lawful G1832 for him G846 to eat, G5315 neither for G3761 them which G3326 were with him, G846 but G1508 only G3441 for the priests? G2409
And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 them G4314 G846 said, G2036 Have ye G314 not G3761 read G314 so much as G3761 this, G5124 what G3739 David G1138 did, G4160 when G3698 himself G846 was an hungred, G3983 and G2532 they which G3588 were G5607 with G3326 him; G846 How G5613 he went G1525 into G1519 the house G3624 of God, G2316 and G2532 did take G2983 and G2532 eat G5315 the shewbread, G740 G4286 and G2532 gave G1325 also G2532 to them that were with G3326 him; G846 which G3739 it is G1832 not G3756 lawful G1832 to eat G5315 but for G1508 the priests G2409 alone? G3441
And thou shalt take H3947 fine flour, H5560 and bake H644 twelve H6240 cakes H2471 thereof: two H8147 tenth deals H6241 shall be in one H259 cake. H2471 And thou shalt set H7760 them in two H8147 rows, H4634 six H8337 on a row, H4635 upon the pure H2889 table H7979 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And thou shalt put H5414 pure H2134 frankincense H3828 upon each row, H4635 that it may be on the bread H3899 for a memorial, H234 even an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 Every sabbath H7676 he shall set it H3117 in order H6186 before H6440 the LORD H3068 continually, H8548 being taken from the children H1121 of Israel H3478 by an everlasting H5769 covenant. H1285 And it shall be Aaron's H175 and his sons'; H1121 and they shall eat H398 it in the holy H6918 place: H4725 for it is most H6944 holy H6944 unto him of the offerings H801 of the LORD H3068 made by fire H801 by a perpetual H5769 statute. H2706
And G2532 he G846 said G3004 unto them, G846 Have ye never G3763 read G314 what G5101 David G1138 did, G4160 when G3753 he had G2192 need, G5532 and G2532 was an hungred, G3983 he, G846 and G2532 they that were with G3326 him? G846 How G4459 he went G1525 into G1519 the house G3624 of God G2316 in the days G1909 of Abiathar G8 the high priest, G749 and G2532 did eat G5315 the shewbread, G740 G4286 which G3739 is G1832 not G3756 lawful G1832 to eat G5315 but for G1508 the priests, G2409 and G2532 gave G1325 also G2532 to them which were G5607 with G4862 him? G846 And G2532 he said G3004 unto them, G846 The sabbath G4521 was made G1096 for G1223 man, G444 and not G3756 man G444 for G1223 the sabbath: G4521
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.