Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 21

Verses 1-15

The Flight of David

David first of all flees to Nob, where Ahimelech supplies him with food and gives him the sword of Goliath. He next takes refuge with Achish at Gath.

1. Nob] see on 1 Samuel 17:54. Alone] He had no escort or retinue.

3. Better, ’Now, therefore, what is under thine hand? Five loaves? Give them into mine hand.’

4. Hallowed bread] i.e. the shewbread. It was removed every sabbath and fresh loaves substituted.

5. Better, ’of a truth women have been kept from us as is usual, when I go on an expedition.’ The bread is in a manner common] The meaning is obscure. RV ’though it was but a common journey; how much more then today shall their vessels be holy?’ i.e. their wallets and utensils were clean when they started and there had been no chance of defiling them since, although their journey was an ordinary one. Ewald understands ’the vessels’ to refer to the young men’s bodies, as in 1 Thessalonians 4:4. They were ceremonially clean, so that they might partake of holy things.

6. This incident was referred to by our Lord (Matthew 12:3).

10. Fled that day] He feared that Doeg would give information and that pursuit would begin at once. Gath] This connexion with Gath brought David some of his most faithful followers.

13. Feigned himself mad] to allay suspicion. Easterns have a religious awe of madness and would not think of injuring those so afflicted. Scrabbled] i.e. scratched, made meaningless marks. LXX ’beat,’ ’drummed’ is much more forcible.

15. In my presence] rather, ’to my annoyance.’