SECTION 4. THE YEARS OF PREPARATION IN THE WILDERNESS (21:1-26:25). A). David Becomes An Outlaw And Forms A Private Army (21:1-22:23). In this subsection David, having become a refugee and not daring to return home for provisions or weapons, obtains both provisions and weapons from Ahimelech the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLORY OF GOD IS REVEALED IN THE CAVE OF ADULLAM: DAVID ESTABLISHES THE BEGINNINGS OF HIS PRIVATE ARMY AND RE-ESTABLISHES THE FUTURE (1 SAMUEL 22:1). Having barely escaped from Gath with his life David returned to Israel and made for the cave of Adullam. Adullam was an ancient royal city of the C... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID ENSURES THE SAFETY OF HIS FATHER AND MOTHER (1 SAMUEL 22:3). The cave was no place for his ageing father and mother, and so David went to Mizpeh of Moab and asked the king of Moab if he would watch over them for him. We do not know how he had become acquainted with the king of Moab, but we do... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL REVEALS HIS TRUE COLOURS (1 SAMUEL 22:6). While David was going through his period of refining, Saul was displaying his true colours. Unlike David he did not learn from his tribulations. He rather used them as a base from which to launch further evils. It appears that he had had his spies out... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house.” But Saul was not listening. Ahimelech had admitted offering David help and so he and his whole house must die whether they had intended a conspiracy or not. For by their actions they had specifically injured th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn, and slay the priests of YHWH, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall on the priests of YHWH.' This fact... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you, and fall on the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell on the priests, and he slew on that day four score and five persons who wore a linen ephod.' Then Saul turned towards the only man who appeared to be in sympathy with what he wanted. Perhaps a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And he smote Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword.' Doeg then followed this up by doing the equivalent of ‘devoting' the city of the priests and all who were in it to destruct... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.' One of the sons of Ahimelech, however, somehow escaped and ‘fled after David'. His name was Abiathar. He was becoming a refugee like David, and would later become David's High Priest, before losin... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain YHWH's priests.' And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain ‘YHWH's Priests'. The pregnant short sentence brings out the solemn awfulness of what Saul had done. It was seen as almost beyond words. Saul had actually lifted up his hand against YHWH and w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house.” ' When David heard it he was conscience stricken. He had noticed Doeg at the Sanctuary and now realised that he... [ Continue Reading ]
“ Stay with me, and do not be afraid. For he who seeks my life seeks your life. For with me you will be under protection.” And then he assured Abiathar that he would be safe with him. For really they were in the same boat. The one who sought David's life also sought Abiathar's life. Thus Abiathar wo... [ Continue Reading ]