1 Samuel21
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 Then to to the . And came to and to him, are you , and with you?
2 And to the , The has me with a and to me, Let of the about which I you, and with which I have you. I have made an with the for and a .
3 then, do you ? , or whatever is .
4 And the , I have , there — the have themselves from .
5 And the , have been from us as when I on an expedition. The of the are even when it is an . How will their be ?
6 So the him the bread, there was the of the , which is from the Lord, to be on the it is taken .
7 Now a certain of the of was that , the Lord. His was the , the of .
8 Then to , Then have here a or a at ? I have my my with , the .
9 And the , The of the , you in the of , , it is here in a the . you will that, it, there is that . And , There is that; it to me.
10 And and that and to the of .
11 And the of to him, Is the of the ? Did they to one another in , has his , and his ?
12 And to and was the of .
13 So he his them and pretended to be in their and on the of the and let his run his .
14 Then to his , , you the is . then have you him to me?
15 Do I , you have this fellow to behave as a in my ? Shall this fellow into my ?
Study
1 Samuel 21Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 21. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David with Ahimelech. (1–9). David at Gath feigns himself mad. (10–15).
vv1-9
David, in distress, fled to the tabernacle of God. It is great comfort in a day of trouble, that we have a God to go to, to whom we may open our cases, and from whom we may ask and expect direction. David told Ahimelech a gross untruth. What shall we say to this? The Scripture does not conceal it, and we dare not justify it; it was ill done, and proved of bad consequence; for it occasioned the death of the priests of the Lord. David thought upon it afterward with regret. David had great faith and courage, yet both failed him; he fell thus foully through fear and cowardice, and owing to the weakness of his faith. Had he trusted God aright, he would not have used such a sorry, sinful shift for his own preservation. It is written, not for us to do the like, no, not in the greatest straits, but for our warning. David asked of Ahimelech bread and a sword. Ahimelech supposed they might eat the shew-bread. The Son of David taught from it, that mercy is to be preferred to sacrifice; that ritual observances must give way to moral duties. Doeg set his foot as far within the tabernacle as David did. We little know with what hearts people come to the house of God, nor what use they will make of pretended devotion. If many come in simplicity of heart to serve their God, others come to observe their teachers and to prove accusers. Only God and the event can distinguish between a David and a Doeg, when both are in the tabernacle. (1Sa 21:10-15)
vv10-15
God's persecuted people have often found better usage from Philistines than from Israelites. David had reason to put confidence in Achish, yet he began to be afraid. His conduct was degrading, and discovered wavering in his faith and courage. The more simply we depend on God, and obey him, the more comfortably and surely we shall walk through this troublesome world.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
נֹב: Nob, a place in Palestine
אֲחִימֶלֶךְ: Achimelek, the name of an Israelite and of a Hittite
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
קִרְאָה: an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)
חָרַד: to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מַדּוּעַ: what (is) known?; i.e. (by implication) (adverbially) why?
בַּד: properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of atree, bar forcarrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an adverb, apart, only, besides
Cross References
1 Samuel 21Jesus cites David's eating of the shewbread to demonstrate that ritual laws yield to human necessity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus explains that the hallowed bread was strictly designated only for the priests to eat.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament parallel where Jesus asks the Pharisees if they read what David did when hungry.
Supported by JFB
Luke's account of Jesus defending His disciples by appealing to David receiving the priest's bread.
Supported by JFB
David's prayer to be kept from lying; commentators link this to his false statement to Ahimelech.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The ritual requirement of abstinence from women, which Ahimelech applied to David's men.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Levitical law establishing the regulations, sanctification, and weekly replacement of the holy shewbread.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Doeg the Edomite reports this meeting to Saul, resulting in the slaughter of the priests.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Explains how Goliath's sword, which David took, was originally deposited and preserved as a trophy.
Supported by JFB
Composed by David when he changed his behavior and feigned madness before Abimelech (Achish).
Jesus identifies the high priest during this event as Abiathar (often equated with Ahimelech).
Written concerning Doeg's betrayal of David to Saul, detailing his deceitful tongue.
The exact song sung by Israel that the servants of Achish quote against David.
Establishes Ahimelech's lineage as a son of Ahitub, connecting him to the house of Eli.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Nob as 'the city of the priests' which Saul later destroys because of David.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB