1 Samuelchapter 21
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A.The showbread and Goliath's sword at Nobvv. 1-9
1 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 2 “The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission or charge. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.” 4 “There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the equipment of the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all the more at this time.” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away. 7 Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul. 8 Then David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business was urgent.” 9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
B.Scrabbling on the gate of Gath, feigning madnessvv. 10-15
10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 12 Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you can see that the man is insane! Why have you brought him to me? 15 Am I in need of madmen, that you have brought this man to rave in my presence? Must this man come into my house?”
Chapter summary
David flees alone to Nob, tells Ahimelech a story about the king's business, and asks for bread.
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Chapter summary
David flees alone to Nob, tells Ahimelech a story about the king's business, and asks for bread.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
David flees alone to Nob, tells Ahimelech a story about the king's business, and asks for bread. There is none but the showbread taken from before Jehovah, and the priest gives it, the incident Jesus cites when the Pharisees attack his disciples for plucking grain on the sabbath (Matthew 12; Mark 2). He also gives him the only weapon in the sanctuary, the sword of Goliath, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: there is none like it. But Doeg the Edomite is detained there that day, and the reader is told so. David then runs to Gath, the giant's own city, is recognized, and escapes only by feigning madness, scrabbling on the doors and letting spittle fall down his beard.
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.
Context
History · Samuel, Nathan, Gad — 1 Samuel overview
- A. 1–9 The showbread and Goliath's sword at Nob
- B. 10–15 Scrabbling on the gate of Gath, feigning madness
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
Psalms 342 verses
- Psalms 34:1I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
- Psalms 34:4I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
- Read Psalms 34 →
1 Samuel 222 verses
- 1 Samuel 22:9But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.
- 1 Samuel 22:22Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.
- Read 1 Samuel 22 →
Leviticus 242 verses
- Leviticus 24:5You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf,
- Leviticus 24:9It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place; for it is to him a most holy part of the offerings made by fire to the LORD—his portion forever.”
- Read Leviticus 24 →
1 Samuel 172 verses
- 1 Samuel 17:2Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.
- 1 Samuel 17:50Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
- Read 1 Samuel 17 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
Psalms 562 verses
- Psalms 56:1Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.
- Psalms 56:3When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
- Read Psalms 56 →
Matthew 121 verse
- Matthew 12:3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
- Read Matthew 12 →
Ecclesiastes 71 verse
- Ecclesiastes 7:7Surely extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
- Read Ecclesiastes 7 →
Nehemiah 111 verse
- Nehemiah 11:32in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
- Read Nehemiah 11 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.