Ver. 1-7. David, AT Nob, Obtains OF Ahimblech HalI
David Ohtaina Hallowed Bread. 1 SAMUEL XXI, XXII. His Kinsmen Resort to Him at Adullam.
Achish was generous (ch. 27. G). He might wish to weaken the resources of Saul, and it was common in ancienl times for great men to be harboured by neighbouring princes. 13. feigned himselfmad—It is supposed to have been an attack of epilepsy, real, or perhaps only pretended. This disease is relieved by foaming at the mouth, let fall hig spittle upon his beard—No wonder that Achish supposed him insane, as such an indignity, whether done by another, or one's self, to the beard, is considered in tlie East an intolerable insult.
moment precious, it was kindness in Jonathan to hasten his friend's departure.
CHAPTER XXI.
Ver. 1-7. David, AT Nob, Obtains OF Ahimblech HalI/OWED BkEAD. 1. Tlien came David to Alvtmelecli Nob, a city oi the priests (cli. 22. 19), was in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives—a little north of tlie top, and on tlie nortli-east of the city. It is computed to liave been about five miles distant from Gibeah. Ahimelecli, the same as Aliiah, or perliaps liis brotlier, both being sons of Ahitub (cf. ch. 11. 3, with ch. 22. 4-11, 20). His object in fleeing to this place, was partly for the supply of his necessities, and partly for comfort and counsel, in the prospect of leaving the kingdom. Aliimelecli was afraid at tlie meeti«»g of David—suspecting some extraordinary occurrence by his appearing so suddenly, and in
CHAPTER XXII.
Ver. 1-8. David's Kindbed and Othees Resort to Him at Aduulam. 1. David . . . escaped to tlic cave Adnllam—Supposed to be that now called Deir-Dubban, a number of pits or underground vaults, some nearly square, and all about fifteen or twenty feet deep, with perpendicular sides, in the soft limestone or chalky rocks. They are on the borders of the Pliilistine plain, at the base of the Judea mountains, six miles soutU-west from Bethlehem, and well adapted for concealing a number of refugees. Ills bretliren, and all Ivls fatlier's lioiise . . . went down—To escape the el Tects of Saul's rage, which seems to have extended to all David's family. From Bethlehem to Deir-Dubban it is, indeed, a descent all tlie way. 3. every one that was in distress—(see on Judges sucli a style, for his attendants were left at a little distance, 'iThe king liatli eoininaiided me a busiuess, and liath said nnto me, Let no man know—This was a direct falsehood, extorted through fear. JJavid probably supposed, like many other persons, that a lie is quite excusable which is told for the sole purpose of saving the speaker'.s life. But what is essentially sinful, can never, from circumstances, change its immoral character; and David liad to repent of this vice of lying (Psalm 119.29). 4. there is no hallowed bread—Tliere would be plenty of bread in his house; but there was no time to wait for
11. 3.) 3. David went tlience to Mizpeh of Moab—Mizpeh signifies a watch tower, and it is evident that it must be taken in this sense here, for {v. 4) it is called " the hold" or fort. The king of Moab was an enemy of Saul (ch. 14.
it. "The liallowed bread" was the old sliew-bread, which had been removed the previous day, and wliich was reserved for the use of the priests alone (Leviticus 24.9). Before entertaining the idea that this bread could be lawfully given to David and liis men, the higli priest seems to have consulted the oracle (ch. 22. 10) as to the course to be followed in this emergency. A dispensation to use tlie hallowed bread was specially granted by God himself. 6. these three days—as required by law (Exodus 19. 15). David and hi.s attendants seem to have been lurking in some of the adjoining caves, to elude pursuit, and to have been, consequently, reduced to great extremities of hun-
47), and the great-grandson of Ruth, of course, related to the family of Jesse; David, therefore, had less anxiety in seeking an asylum within the dominions of this prince than those of Achish, because the Moabites had no grounds for entertaining vindictive feelings against him, and their enmity to Saul rendered tliem the more willing to receive so illustrious a I'efugee from his court. 5. tlie prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold—
'it'uis sound advice, no doubt, came from a liigher source than Gad's own sagacity. It was right to appear publicly amongst the people of his own tribe, as one conscious of innocence and trusting in God ; and it was expedient that, on the death of Saul, his friends might be encouraged to support his interest, forest of Harath—south-west of Jerusalem. 6. Saul abode under a ti-ee in Ramali lit., under a grove on a hill. Oriental princes frequently sit with their court under some shady canopy in the open gf»". the bread is in a manner common i. e., now that
It is no longer standing on the Lord's table. It Is eaten by the priests, and may also, in our circumstances, be eaten by us. yea, thongh it were Banctlfled this day in the vessel—i.e., though the hallowed bread had been but newly placed on the vessel, the ritual ordinance would have to yield to the great law of necessity and mercy (see on Matthew 12. 3; Mark 2. 2-5; Luke 6.3). 6. tliere is no bread there—in the tabernacle. The removal of the old and the substitution of the new bread was done on the Sabbath (Leviticus 24. 8), the loaves being kept warm in an oven heated the previous day. 7. Doeg, an Cdomite who had embraced the Hebrew religion, detained before theliord—at the tabernacle, perhaps, in tlie performance of a vow, or from its being the Sabbath, which rendered it unlawful for him to prosecute his journey, the chlefest of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul—Eastern monarchs anciently' had large possessions in flocks and herds; and the office of the chief shepherd was an Important one.
air. A spear was the early sceptre. 7. Hear now, ye Benjamites—This was an appeal to stimulate the patriotism or jealousy of his own tribe, from which he insinuated it was the design of David to transfer the kingdom to another. This address seems to have been made on hearing* of David's return with his four hundred men to Judah. A dark suspicion had risen in the jealous mind of the king that Jonathan was privy to this movement, which he dreaded as a conspiracy against tJie crown.
9-16. DoBG Accuses Ahimelech. 9. Doeg set over the sei-vants Sept., the mules of .Saul. 10. lie inquired of the Liord for him—Some suppose that tliis was a malicious fiction of Doeg to curry favour with the king, but Ahimelech seems to acknowledge the fact. The poor simple-minded high priest knew nothing of the existing family feud between Saul and David. The informer, if he knew it, said nothing of the cunning artifice by which David obtained the aid of Ahimelech. The facts looked against him, and the whole priesthood along with hira were declared abettors of conspiracy.
9. He Takes Goliath's Sword. 9. sword of Goliath —(see on ch. 18. .54.) behind the ephod— In the place allowed for keeping the sacred vestments, of which the ephod is mentioned as the chief. The giant's sword was deposited in that safe custody as a memorial of the Divine goodness in delivering Israel, there Is none like that— Not only for its size and superior temper, but for its being a pledge of the Divine favour to him, and a constant stimulus to his faith.
17-19. .Saul. Commands to Kill the Priests. 17. th« footmen that stood about him—His body-guard, or riis runners (ch. 8. 11 ; 2 Samuel 15. 1 ; 1 Kings 1. 5 ; 1 Ki ngs 14.
10-15. At Gath He Feigns Himself Mad. 10. David. . . fled ... to Achislk, king of Gath—which was one of the five principalities of the Philistines. In this place his person must have been known, and to venture into that country, he their greatest enemy, and with the sword of Goliath In his hand, would seem to have been a perilous experiment; but, doubtless, the protection he received Implies that he had been dlrect«d by the Divine oracle.
28), who held an Importint place at court (2 Chronicles 12.
10). But tliey chose rather to disobey the king than to offend God by imbruing their hands in the blood of his ministering servants. A foreigner alone (Psalm 52. 1-3) could be found willing to be the executioner of this bloody and sacrilegious sentence. Thus was the doom of tlie house of Eli fulfilled. 19. Nob, the city of the priests, 189