Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 21:2

Verse 1 Samuel 21:2. The king hath commanded me a business] All said here is an untruth, and could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord; but there is no reason to believe that David was under the influence of Divine inspiration at this time. It is well known that from all antiquity it was held no crime to tell a lie, in order to save life. Thus Diphilus: -

Ὑπολαμβανω το ψευδος επι σωτηριᾳ

Λεγομενον, ουδεν περιποιεισθαι δυσχερες.


"I hold it right to tell a lie, in order to procure my personal safety; nothing should be avoided in order to save life."

A heathen may say or sing thus; but no Christian can act thus, and save his soul, though he by doing so may save his life.

Continues after advertising

See also 1 Samuel 21:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    A fresh instance of David’s unscrupulous readiness of invention (compare 1 Samuel 20:6)....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    6. DAVID'S VARIED EXPERIENCES CHAPTER 21 _ 1. David at Nob with Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1)_ 2. David's flight to Achish, King of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10) With this chapter begins the record of David's...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 SAMUEL 21. DAVID AT NOB AND GATH. 1 Samuel 21:1 (J). From one of the ancient documents; it is not clear which of the previous sections finds its sequel here. It is often connected with 1 Samuel 19:1...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _The king_, &c. Again David has, recourse to a lie. See 1 Samuel 20:6, and note on 1 Samuel 19:17. The consequences of it were disastrous. my _servants_ THE YOUNG MEN, as in 1 Samuel 21:4. The words...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    David's Flight to Gath, 1 Samuel 21:1-15. _David At Nob._ 1 Samuel 21:1-9 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why _ar...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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 THE...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FLIGHT OF DAVID David first of all flees to Nob, where Ahimelech supplies him with food and gives him the sword of Goliath. He next takes refuge with Achish at Gath....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 21 DAVID GOES TO THE TOWN OF NOB V1 David went and visited Ahimelech the priest. He lived in the town of Nob. Ahimelech trembled when he went...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE KING HATH COMMANDED ME. — This is one of the sad episodes in a glorious life. Overwhelmed with dismay at his sudden fall, home and wife, friends and rank, all had been taken from him, and he who h...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[1 Samuel 21:3]_ וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לַ אֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXVIII. _ DAVID AT NOB AND AT GATH._ 1 Samuel 21:1. WE enter here on a somewhat painful part of David's history. He is not living so near to God as before; and in consequence his course beco...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FOOD AND WEAPON: A SIDE STEP 1 Samuel 21:1 David fled to Nob, at the north of the Mount of Olives, where Ahimelech presided over the relics of the ancient sanctuary. His suspicions were removed by an...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Under such trying stress, the land itself seemed too hot to hold David, and he takes refuge in flight. The story of his period of exile, with its varied experiences, follows. His movements during this...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The (b) 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...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _The king, &c. This was an untruth, which David, like many other great men, might think lawful in such an emergency. But it is essentially evil. (Calmet) --- And such, which he deems it unnecessary to...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (2) And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded t...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We enter now on a portion of David's history sensibly different from what we have already had, which closed with the efforts of Jonathan to restore matters and to attach Saul to him at least openly. J...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The elect king is now rejected. He repairs to the priest, who gives him the hallowed bread, according to the sovereign grace of God, who rises above the ordinances that are connected with blessing, wh...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND DAVID SAID UNTO AHIMELECH THE PRIEST,.... In reply to his question, and to account for such an appearance he made without an equipage: THE KING HATH COMMANDED ME A BUSINESS, AND HATH SAID UNTO ME...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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 Samu...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    [DAUID AT NOB.] 1 Dauid at Nob, obtaineth of Ahimelech hallowed bread. 7 Doeg was present. 8 Dauid taketh Goliaths sword. 10 Dauid at Gath faineth himselfe madde. 1 THEN came Dauid to Nob, to Ahi...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    DAVID AT NOB...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And David said unto Ahimelech, the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    David came down to Nob, which was a cause of alarm to Ahimelech the priest, who asks why he had no man with him. It would seem from the history here that he had no-one identified with him, yet there m...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 David, in distress, fled to the tabernacle of God. It is great comfort in a day of trouble, that we have a God to go to, to whom we may open our cases, and from whom we may ask and expect directi...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE KING HATH COMMANDED ME A BUSINESS: this seems to be a plain lie, extorted from him by fear and necessity. But as it was officious for himself, so it was pernicious to all the priests there. Whence...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 21:2 David H1732 said H559 (H8799) Ahimelech H288 priest H3548 king H4428 ordered H6680 (H8765) business...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    AS A REFUGEE DAVID VISITS AHIMELECH THE PRIEST AND OBTAINS PROVISIONS AND WEAPONS (1 SAMUEL 21:1). Recognising that he dare not return home to obtain food or weapons, the refugee David seeks help from...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David flees to Ahimelech and Achish. CHARACTERS: David, Ahimelech, Doeg, Achish. CONCLUSION: If we would but trust God aright, we would not have to resort to miserable and dishonoring devi...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 21:1. _Nob;_ fifteen miles west of Jerusalem, and on the road to Gath, where the wandering ark now rested. It was a little city of priests. After they were all murdered, by Saul, the ark was...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then came David to Nob._ ALMOST GONE It is not easy to walk with God. I. The steps of David’s declension. The first sign of what was impending was his remark to Jonathan, that there was but a step...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 21:1 David begins his life as a fugitive. He moves around from place to place, gathering a group of 400 men, which later increases to 600. Saul is single-minded in his determ...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 21:2 THE KING HAS CHARGED ME. David deceived Ahimelech the priest by implying that he (David) was on official business for the king. David’s deception would result in the dea...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 21:1. The position of Nob cannot now be determined, only from Isaiah 10:28, we gather that it was on the road northward between Jerusalem and Anathoth. Porter i...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    DAVID'S FLIGHT TO NOB, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE PHILISTINES (1 Samuel 21:1.). EXPOSITION DAVID'S FLIGHT TO NOB ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So David now fled to Nob to Ahimelech who was the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said to him, Why are you alone, why aren't there men with you? [You know David was a cap...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 13:18; 1 Samuel 19:17; 1 Samuel 22:22; Colossians 3:9;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The king, &c. — This seems to be a plain lie extorted from him, by fear. But it was pernicious to all the priests there. Whence David afterwards declares his repentance for this sin of lying, Psalms 1...

Continues after advertising