1 Samuel 21
Overview
1 Samuel 21 follows David on the run from King Saul, highlighting his resourcefulness and the challenges he faces while evading capture. This chapter is significant for its portrayal of David’s survival tactics and his interactions with various individuals. Key aspects include:
David at Nob with Ahimelech the Priest: David arrives at Nob and meets Ahimelech the priest. David lies about being on a secret mission for Saul to explain his lack of provisions and weapons. Ahimelech gives him consecrated bread, which was only lawful for priests to eat, and the sword of Goliath.
David’s Encounter with Doeg the Edomite: While at Nob, David is seen by Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's servants, setting the stage for future trouble.
David in Gath: Fearing capture, David flees to Gath, the Philistine city. However, he is recognized as the one who killed Goliath, so he feigns insanity to avoid detection. The king of Gath, Achish, dismisses him as harmless.
David's Escape to the Cave of Adullam: After leaving Gath, David takes refuge in the cave of Adullam. His family and others in distress, in debt, or discontented join him there, and he becomes their leader.
1 Samuel 21 illustrates the complexities of David's flight from Saul. His interactions at Nob show his ability to think on his feet, though they also involve deception. The episode in Gath displays David's quick-wittedness in a dangerous situation. This chapter underscores the precarious nature of David’s situation as he transitions from a favored hero to a fugitive, relying on his wits and God's guidance for survival. The gathering of people around him at Adullam foreshadows the loyal following he will command as he moves closer to becoming king.
David at Nob with Ahimelech the Priest: David arrives at Nob and meets Ahimelech the priest. David lies about being on a secret mission for Saul to explain his lack of provisions and weapons. Ahimelech gives him consecrated bread, which was only lawful for priests to eat, and the sword of Goliath.
David’s Encounter with Doeg the Edomite: While at Nob, David is seen by Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's servants, setting the stage for future trouble.
David in Gath: Fearing capture, David flees to Gath, the Philistine city. However, he is recognized as the one who killed Goliath, so he feigns insanity to avoid detection. The king of Gath, Achish, dismisses him as harmless.
David's Escape to the Cave of Adullam: After leaving Gath, David takes refuge in the cave of Adullam. His family and others in distress, in debt, or discontented join him there, and he becomes their leader.
1 Samuel 21 illustrates the complexities of David's flight from Saul. His interactions at Nob show his ability to think on his feet, though they also involve deception. The episode in Gath displays David's quick-wittedness in a dangerous situation. This chapter underscores the precarious nature of David’s situation as he transitions from a favored hero to a fugitive, relying on his wits and God's guidance for survival. The gathering of people around him at Adullam foreshadows the loyal following he will command as he moves closer to becoming king.
1 Samuel 21
1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
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.
3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
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.
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.
6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
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.
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.
🔑→ Devotion
10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
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?
12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13 And he changed his behaviour 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.
14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
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?
End of 1 Samuel 21
1 Year Plan: May 1 - 1 Sa 21, 1 Sa 22, John 18
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.
3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
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.
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.
6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
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.
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.
🔑→ Devotion
10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
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?
12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13 And he changed his behaviour 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.
14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
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?
End of 1 Samuel 21
1 Year Plan: May 1 - 1 Sa 21, 1 Sa 22, John 18
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