1 Samuel21
New Living Translation
1David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he saw him. “Why are you alone?” he asked. “Why is no one with you?”
2“The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. “He told me not to tell anyone why I am here. I have told my men where to meet me later.
3Now, what is there to eat? Give me five loaves of bread or anything else you have.”
4“We don’t have any regular bread,” the priest replied. “But there is the holy bread, which you can have if your young men have not slept with any women recently.”
5“Don’t worry,” David replied. “I never allow my men to be with women when we are on a campaign. And since they stay clean even on ordinary trips, how much more on this one!”
6Since there was no other food available, the priest gave him the holy bread—the Bread of the Presence that was placed before the Lord in the Tabernacle. It had just been replaced that day with fresh bread.
7Now Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief herdsman, was there that day, having been detained before the Lord.
8David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword? The king’s business was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to grab a weapon!”
9“I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.” “There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!”
10So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath.
11But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
12David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him.
13So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.
14Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman?
15We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 21.
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