1-6 David at Nob obtains Ahimelech hallowed bread 7 Doeg is present 8,9 David takes Goliath's sword 10-15 David at Gath feigns himself mad

Nob Nob appears to have been a sacerdotal city of Benjamin or Ephraim. Jerome says, that in his time the ruins of it might be seen not far from Diospolis or Lydda. But the Rabbins assert that Jerusalem might be seen from this town. The tabernacle resided some time at Nob; and after it was destroyed, it was removed to Gibeon; `and the day of Nob and Gibeon were fifty-seven years.' Maimonides in Bethhabbechirah, c.1 1Sa 22:19 Ne 11:32 Isa 10:32

to Ahimelech 1Sa 14:3

called Ahiah 1Sa 22:9-19

called also Abiathar Mr 2:26

afraid 1Sa 16:4

2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

The king The whole of this is a gross falsehood; and which was attended with the most fatal consequences. It is well known that from all antiquity it was held no crime to tell a lie in order to save life. Thus Diphilon () `I hold it right to tell a lie for safety: nothing should be avoided to save life.' A heathen may say or sing thus: but no Christian can act thus and save his soul, though he may save his life. 1Sa 19:17 22:22 Ge 27:20,24 1Ki 13:18 Ps 119:29 Ga 2:12 Col 3:9

3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

under thine 1Sa 21:4 Jud 9:29 Isa 3:6

present [heb] found

4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

hallowed bread 1Sa 21:6 Ex 25:30 Le 24:5-9 Mt 12:3,4

if the young Ex 19:15 Zec 7:3 1Co 7:5

5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

the vessels Ac 9:15 1Th 4:3,4 2Ti 2:20,21 1Pe 3:17

in a manner Le 24:9

yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. or, especially when this day there is other sanctified in the vessel. Le 8:26

6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

gave him Mt 12:3,4 Mr 2:25-27 Lu 6:3,4

hot bread Le 24:5-9

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

detained Jer 7:9-11 Eze 33:31 Am 8:5 Mt 15:8 Ac 21:26,27

doeg 1Sa 22:9 Ps 52:1

herdmen 1Sa 11:5 Ge 13:7,8 26:20 1Ch 27:29 2Ch 26:10

8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

The sword 1Sa 17:51-54

the valley 1Sa 17:2,50

behold 1Sa 31:10

behind Ex 28:6

10 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

fled 1Sa 27:1 1Ki 19:3 Jer 26:21

Achish. or, Abimelech. 1Sa 27:2 Ps 34:1

Gath Jerome says there was a large town called Gath, in the way from Eleutheropolis, towards Lydda (and consequently different from that mentioned by Jerome;) and also of another Gath, between Jamnia and Antipatris. It appears to have been the extreme boundary of the Philistine territory in one direction, as Ekron was on the other, (ch. 7:14; 17:52,) and lay near Mareshah, (2ch 11:8 Mic. 1:14,) which agrees pretty well with the position assigned it by Jerome. But Reland and Dr. Wells agree with Eusebius; and the authors of the Universal History (b. i. c.7) place it about six miles form Jamnia, fourteen south of Joppa, and thirty-two west of Jerusalem.

11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

the servants Ps 56:1

the king 1Sa 16:1 18:7,8 29:5

12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

laid up Ps 119:11 Lu 2:19,51

sore 1Sa 21:10 Ge 12:11-13 26:7 Ps 34:4 56:3

13 And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

changed Ps 34:1 Pr 29:25 Ec 7:7

scrabbled. or, made marks

14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

is mad. or, playeth the madman Ec 7:7

15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?