_A.M. 2942. B.C. 1062._ David, coming to Nob, takes the show-bread, and Goliath's sword, 1 Samuel 21:1. Goes to Achish, and feigns himself mad, 1 Samuel 21:10. Is dismissed by Achish, 1 Samuel 21:14; 1 Samuel 21:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then came David to Nob_ A city of the priests in the tribe of Benjamin, about twelve miles from Gibeah, not far from Anathoth and Jerusalem, Nehemiah 11:32; Isaiah 10:32. The tabernacle, it appears, had been removed hither, and hither David now resorts, in hopes of finding shelter for a season, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king hath commanded_, &c. This is a plain lie, extorted from him by fear, and one that was very pernicious to all the priests there. Whence David afterward declares his repentance for it, (1 Samuel 22:22,) and prays against the sin of lying, Psalms 119:29. _To such and such a place_ To certain... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is under thy hand?_ He desires to know what he was able to do for him to supply his wants. And particularly he requests some bread for himself and servants. _Or what there is present_ That is, any other victuals. _There is hallowed bread_ Here in the tabernacle. Doubtless, Ahimelech had other... [ Continue Reading ]
_About these three days_ As long as the law required, Exodus 19:15. And so long, it seems, David and his men had hid themselves for fear of Saul, whereby they were kept both from their wives and from food convenient for them. _The vessels of the young men are holy _ That Isaiah, 1 st, Either their g... [ Continue Reading ]
_Detained before the Lord_ That is, at the tabernacle. It is not to be imagined that he was detained here by force, but by his own choice he stayed there that day, either because it was the sabbath day, on which he might not proceed on his journey, or for the performance of some vow, or other religi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king's business required haste_ He pretended to Ahimelech, that the reason why he had not brought his sword or any weapon with him was, because he had not time to go to his house; the king pressing him to go immediately about his business. _Wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod_ That is, behind t... [ Continue Reading ]
_David arose and fed to Achish_ A miserable condition, to be forced to flee to those for protection who were naturally his bitter enemies. For this was the city of Goliath whom he had slain, and whose sword he had now about him. But it must be considered that Saul's rage was so great, and his power... [ Continue Reading ]
_King of the land_ Of Canaan. They call him king, either more generally for the governor, the most eminent captain and commander, or, as the king elect, the person designed to be king: for, by this time, the fame of Saul's rejection, and David's destination to the kingdom, was got abroad among the I... [ Continue Reading ]
_David laid up these words in his heart_ It is probable he had been at first well received, but this discourse deeply affected him, and made him think himself not safe there. For, when he found that his fame was spread among them, as having slain such numbers of the Philistines, he concluded that th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He feigned himself mad_ That he might escape out of their hands. And herein he showed great sagacity and penetration. How great danger he was in, appears plainly from the 34th and 56th Psalms, which he composed upon this occasion. And he had indeed need to consider it, as he does in the first of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have I need of madmen?_ It is highly probable that Achish was aware this madness was counterfeit. But, being desirous to preserve David, he spoke as if he thought it real.... [ Continue Reading ]