1 Samuel 21
DortDavid seeing from Saul, cometh to Nob to Achimelech the Priest, vers. I, &c. He feigneth as if he had been sent by Saul to dispatch some secret business, 2. He asketh bread, 3. Achimelech giveth him the shew-bread loaves, 4. Doeg seeth this, 7. David asketh armes, 8. Achimelech giveth him Goliaths sword, 9. David fleeth and cometh to Achis, 10. He is not welcome to the Princes of Achis, 11. David is in great fear, 12. He changeth his behaviour, and meaneth himself, as if he were a fool, 13. Achis taketh it in ill part, that they had brought a fool to him, 14.
1. Then came David to Nob [This was a City, pertaining to the Priests, not far from Anathoth, in the tribe of Benjamin, I Kings 2.26. Nehem.11.32. where at this time the Ark of the covenant was. Hence it came to passé that so many Priests were all together, as is related, chap.22.18.] to Achimelech the Priest: and Achimelech came trembling to meet David. [Heb. trembled to meet David. Compare above c.13.17. & 16.4.] and he said unto him, Why art thou alone, [Matth.12.3,4/ is mention made of David, and them that were with him: of whom it is said here, that David had made known to them some certain place: so that it seemeth that David came alone to the Priest] and no man with thee?
2. And David said unto Achimelech the Priest, The King hath commanded me a business, and said unto me, Let no man know any thing, of the business where about I have sent thee, and which i have commanded thee: [This is a lie, proceeding from humane frailty, to conceal and hide the right cause of this flight. See Exod.1.19.] now I have made known to the young men, [i.e. the men, which were added to me by the King] the place of such a one. [Heb. Peloni Almoni. See Ruth.4.11. Oth. on the place of one so and so called.]
3. And now what, [viz. of eatable ware, or of things fit to be eaten] is there under thine hand, give me five loaves in mine hand, or what there is found.
4. And the Priest answered David, and said, There is no common [The word common is both here and elsewhere opposed to the word holy, or, hallowed] bread under mine hand: but there is holy bread, [Heb. bread of holinesse; i.e. holy bread: and so below vers.5. He speaketh here of the shew-bread loaves, here set before the Lord, and so hallowed unto the Lord, whereof no man might eat, but the Priests onely. See Exodus 25:30. and Levit. 24.5.] when the young men have at least kept themselves from women. Understand it from their lawful wives; for although marriage be honourable in all, and an undefiled bed, Hebrews 13:4. yet by reason of mens weakness, is sin easily mixed therewith, therefore the Lord requireth that at certain and occasional times and seasons people should abstain from marriage-copulation or coming together. See Exodus 19:15. I Cor. 7.5. Understand withal, then I will give thee that.]
5. Now David answered the Priest, and said unto him, Yea of a truth verily, the women have been kept from us yesterday, and ere yesterday, when I went forth; [As if David should say, we have been three days on the journey, and consequently so long time separated from our wives] and the vessels of the young men [i.e. their bodies, garments, and whatsoever they have taken along with the on the journey] are holy: [Holy signifieth in this place, not defiled, or polluted by touching any unclean thing] and it is in some manner common (bread,) should say, Thou needest not be so scrupulous, or make so great ado, to give me, and those that are with me, to eat of those loaves: for though they be holy as long as they stand upon the table before the Lord, yet seeing thou must now change them, and take them away, (or all must be taken away, and changed) and put new loaves in the room thereof (or, new be put in already:) therefore their holiness will not now be such as it was before, they lying before the face of the Lord, might be eaten of no man. Therefore according to the rule and Law of charity, (which is more then the ceremonies) others may also in time of need, and through want of other food, eat threof: as Christ hath expounded this Law, Matth. 12.4,7.] the rather because (other) will be hallowed in the vessels. [Of these vessels, see Exodus 25:29.]
6. Then the Priest gave him that holy (bread,) because there was no bread, but the shew-bread (loaves,) which were taken away from before the face of the LORD, that they might lay warm bread [i.e. fresh, new-baked bread] there, in the day [viz. when the Sabbath-day came, as is there commanded, Levit. 24.8.] when that is taken away.
7. Now there was that same day a man of the servants of Saul deteined [Or, having shut-up himself: Be it either in respect of the Sabbath, whereon he would rest there; or, because he would tarry there a while, for to worship; or, because he would perform some vow that he had made] before the face of the LORD, [viz. in the Tabernacle] and his name was Doeg, an Edomite: [viz. by birth, but by receiving and embracing the Jewish Religion, become a Proselyte. Oth. an Adomite; i.e. of the City Adama, lying in the tribe of Naphthali; Joshua 19:36.] the mightiest among the Shepheards, that Saul had.
8. And David said unto Achimelech, Is (there) under thy hand no spear, or sword, for I have neither taken my sword in mine hand, nor also my weapons, because the Kings business required haste.
9. Then said the Priest, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou smotest in the oak-valley, behold, that is (here) wrapt in a cloth, behind the Ephod, [So that it is kept and lockt up by, or with the Ephod in the Tent. Oth. after that the priest (Achimelech) had put on the Ephod, and had asked counsel of the Lord. See chapter 22.10, 13, 15. See the like phrase, Genes. 24.67. and Deuteronomy 24:20,21.] if thou will take that for thy self, take it, for here is no other but that: Then said David, There is none like it, give it me.
10. And David gat him up, and fled that day from the face of Saul: and he came to Achis [This King is, Psal. 34.1. called Abimelech. Achis wsa his proper name, but abimelecch a name common to all the Kings of the Philistines. See Genes. 20. vers. 21.26.] the King of Gath. [Lying in the Philistines Land; see I Sam. 5.8. and 17.1.]
11. But the servants of Achis said unto him; Is not this David the King of the Land? [i.e. Governour or Ruler of the Israelitish Land, who hath married the Daughter of King Saul, and who is likely to be King after him] did they not sing of this (man) in the dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands?
12. And David laid (up) these words in his heart, and he was much afraid before the face of Achis, the King of Gath: [See Psal. 34.]
13. Wherefore he changed his behaviour [Heb. his Savour. As we perceive by the taste, whether the meat be good or bad, sweet or sower: So may we perceive by the behaviour or gestures, whether a man be wise or foolish, or good] before their eyes, and he feigned himself foolish among them: [i.e. when they had taken him, and led him to the King. See Psal. 34.and 36.1.] and he rabled on the doors of the gates. [Oth. he marked on the doors of the gates: i.e. he pictured, or made little scrawling on the doors, as if he had been simple or sottish] and he let his spittle run down into his beard.
14. Then said Achis unto his servants: Behold, ye see that the man is frantick, wherefore have ye brought him to me?
15. Have I need of mad (men;) that ye have brought this (man) to play the mad-man before me? [i.e. in my presence] shall this (fellow) come into my house?