J M 21:1-9. Nob. Priest's help given. N 21:10-15. Philistines. David's flight to Achish. O 22:1-5. Places of refuge. Adullam. M 22:6-23. Nob. Priests slaughtered. N 23:1-13. Philistines. Relief of Keilah. O 23:14,15. Place of refuge. Desert of Ziph.
M d¹ 1. Ahimlech's fear. e¹ 2,3. "Let no man know". d² 4-6. Ahimelech's help. e² 7. Doeg knows. d³ 8,9. Ahimelech's gift.
969 B.C.
21)
1: Then came David to Nob (= high place) to Ahimelech the priest (= brother of the king. So called here and in 22:9,11,14,16,20. See 14:3 and Mark 2:26): and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no man with you?” (the government hadn't sought out the help of the priests for awhile)
2: And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, ‘Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send you, and what I have commanded you:’ and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. (covert activity. He has told 3 lies, BUT he is running for his life with no provisions and no weapons)
3: Now therefore what is under your 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 (or unhallowed) bread under my hand, but there is holy (= set apart. See Ex.3:5) bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. (and thus ceremonially clean, to eat such bread)
5: And David answered the priest, and said to him, “Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the ovens of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the oven.” (= and the more so, when today there are other loaves to be holy in respect of their ovens. David was taking the old bread. The new bread was being made. So he was not being sacriligious)
6: So the priest gave him holy bread: for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before Yehovah, 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 (Yehovah) (probably from some ceremonial reason. Cp. "shut up" [Jer.36:5], or a "vow" [Acts 21:23-27], or "uncleaness" [Lev.13:4,11,21]); and his name was Doeg (= fearful. See Ps.52), an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
8: And David said to Ahimelech, “And is there not here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” (David is sort of stretching the truth)
9: And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you slew in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if you will take that, take it: for there is no other save that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”
N f 10. Achish. Arrival of David. g 11. David's fear. g 12,13. David's simulation. f 14,15. Achish. Deception by David.
10: And David arose, and fled that day from the face of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. (Why would David run here? this was the home of the giants)
11: And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances (cp. 18:7 and 29:5), saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’ ” (He was hiding-out like a sore thumb)
12: And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath (He realized he had made a big mistake. That doesn't mean God will leave you. Even great ones make mistakes. See subscription of Ps.55).
13: And he changed his behaviour before them (see title of Ps.34), and feigned himself mad in their hands, and struck against on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
14: Then said Achish to his servants, “Lo, you all see the man is mad: why then have you all brought the man to me? (he won't fight a mad man, it would make him look bad)
15: Have I need of mad men, that you all have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?”
968 B.C.
22)
1: David therefore departed from that place, and escaped to the cave Adullam (= justice of the people. See title of Ps.57): and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down to that place to him. (He had some good friends)
2: And every man that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was bitter of soul (cp. Judg.18:13, "angry": i.e. embittered), gathered themselves to him; and he became a chief (or leader, or prince) over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3: And David went from that place to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said to the king of Moab, “Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, dwell, and be with you, till I know what Elohim will do for me.”
4: And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the stronghold (or fortified camp. First occ.).
5: And the prophet Gad said to David, “Abide not in the stronghold; depart, and get you into the land of Judah.” Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth (= thicket).
M h 6-8. Saul's threatnings of Benjamites. i 9,10. Doeg informs against David. k 11-19. Ahimelech slain by Saul. k 20,21. Abiathar's escape to David. i 22. Doeg suspected by David. h 23. David's assurance to Abiathar.
968 to 967 B.C.
6: When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, {now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah (or, in the high place), having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;}
7: Then Saul said to his servants that stood about him, “Hear now, all you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; (he's about to use a bribe on them)
8: That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that shows me that my son has made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that takes pity upon me, or shows to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (he's on a poor-me-baby pity-party crying jag)
9: Then answered Doeg the Edomite (vv.9-16, by Fig. Hysterêsis, give details not contained in former narration [21:1-9]), which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10: And he inquired of the Lord (Yehovah) for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
11: Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12: And Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.”
13: And Saul said to him, “Why have you all conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God (Elohim) for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (the spirit of jealousy still strong in Saul)
14: Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goes at your bidding (or, comes near for audience. Sept. reads 'is captain over you bodygaurd"), and is honourable in your house?
15: Did I then begin to inquire of Elohim for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing to his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.” (in his mind, David could be trusted to the end)
16: And the king said, “You shalt surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house.”
17: And the king said to the runners that stood about him, “Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord (Yehovah); because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing, and did not shew it to me” (this is a lie. They didn't know!). But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord (Yehovah).
18: And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you, and fall upon the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned (he could care less about God), and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod (thus partly fulfilling 2:31; 3:12, on Eli's hose).
19: And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he 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.
20: And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar (= the father of abundance), escaped (Saul thus caused the transfer of the High Priest, with the Urim and Thummim, to David), and fled after David.
21: And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord's (Yehovah's) priests. (Satan trying to destroy priest line and the Word of God)
22: And David said to Abiathar, “I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of every soul of your father's house. (a mark of David's characteristic tenderness. He knew he should have killed him there. He messed up because of his goodness)
23: Abide you with me, fear not: for he that seeks my soul seeks your soul: but with me you shall be in safeguard.”
N P 1. Keilah. Assault by Philistines. Q l 2. David's inquiries. m 3. David and his men. l 4. David's inquiries. m 5-. David and his men. P -5. Keilah. Delivered by David. Q n 6. David and Abiathar. o 7,8. Information given to Saul. n 9-13-. David and Abiathar. o -13. Information given to Saul.
966 B.C.
23)
1: Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah (= fortress. Lowlands of Judah where grain crops were), and they rob the threshingfloors.”
2: Therefore David inquired of Yehovah (through the High Priest who had the Urim and Thummim), saying, “Shall I go and smite these Philistines?” And Yehovah said to David, “Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
3: And David's men said to him, “Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
4: Then David inquired of the Lord (Yehovah) yet again. And the Lord (Yehovah) answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hands.” (a raiding party for suppies)
5: So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines,
and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. (God always keeps His word)
966 to 964 B.C.
6: And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7: And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God (Elohim) has delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars.”
8: And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9: And David knew that Saul contrived mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring to this place the ephod.”
10: Then said David, “O the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11: Will the masters (or lords) of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, according as Your servant has heard? O the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of Israel, I beseech You, tell Your servant.” And the Lord (Yehovah) said, “He will come down.”
12: Then said David, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord (Yehovah) said, “They will deliver you up.” (like Saul and any leader that has NO CHARACTER, things will slip up. True even to this day. Look around you!)
13: Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went to which ever place they could go.
And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14: And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but Eloim delivered him not into his hand.
15: And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his soul: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16: And Jonathan Saul's son arose (a spy for Davd?), and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in Elohim.
17: And he said to him, “Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; and that also Saul my father knows. (Jonathan wasn't jealous like his father)
18: And they two made a covenant in a wood before the Lord (Yehovah): and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. (they parted company)
J R 23:19-26. Place of refuge. S 23:27,28. Philistines. R 23:29–26:25. Places of refuge. S 27:1-4. Philistines.
19: Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah (see title of Ps.54), saying, “Does not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20: Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of our soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.”
21: And Saul said, “Blessed be you all of the Lord (Yehovah); for you all have compassion on me.
22: Go, I pray you, and prepare yet, and know and see his place where his track (or trail) is, and who has seen him there: for it is told me that he deals very subtilly.
23: See therefore, and get to know of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come you all again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.”
24: And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon (= a wild forest or park-like country. Carmel of Judah. Not Carmel of Manasseh), in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25: Saul also and his men went to seek David. And they told David: wherefore he came down from the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26: And Saul and his men went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away from the face of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27: But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, “Haste you, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.”
28: Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth (= the cliff of divsions or seperations. Now Wady Malaky, where 2 forces could be inaccessible the one to the other, and yet within sight and hearing).
R T 23:29–24:22. Desert of En-gedi. U 25:1-. Trouble. Death of Samuel. U 25-1-44. Trouble. Action of Nabal. T 26:1-25. Desert of Ziph.
T p 23:29–24:1. Information brought to Saul. q r 24:2. Search by Saul. s 24:3-7. Proof obtained by David. q r 24:8. Sight by Saul. s 24:9-22-. Proof exhibited by Dvid. p 24:-22. Seperation from Saul.
29: And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.
964 B.C.
24)
1: And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2: Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3: And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet (A euphemism: i.e. to stoop [i.e. making bowel movement, and so caused his feet to be covered by robe): and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4: And the men of David said to him, “Behold the day of which the Lord (Yehovah) said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him according as it shall seem good to you.’ ” Then David arose, and cut off the corner (or wing) of Saul's robe privily.
5: And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the lappet of Saul's robe. (David knew that Saul wasn't evil: it was the Evil Spirit that moved him)
6: And he said to his men, “The Lord (Yehovah) forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's (Yehovah's) anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord (Yehovah).”
7: So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8: David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king.” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
s V¹ 9-15. Remonstrance of David. V² 16-22-. Reconciliation of Saul.
V¹ t 9-11. Expostlation with Saul. u 12,13. Appeal to Yehovah. t 14. Expostulation with Saul. u 15. Appeal to Yehovah.
9: And David said to Saul, “Why do you hear men's words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks your hurt?’
10: Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that the Lord (Yehovah) had delivered you to day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you: but my eye spared you; and I said, ‘I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's (Yehovah's) anointed.
11: Moreover, my father, see, yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the corner of your robe and killed you not, know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul to take it.
12: The Lord (Yehovah) judge between me and you, and the Lord (Yehovah) avenge me of you: but my hand shall not be upon you.
13: As says the proverb of the ancients, ‘Lawlessness proceeds from the wicked:’ but my hand shall not be upon you.
14: After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15: The Lord (Yehovah) therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and justly deliver me out of your hand.”
V² v 16. Recognition of David by Saul. w x 17-19-. Acknowledgment of David's act. y -19. Blessing. w x 20. Acknowledgment of Yehovah's will. y 21,22-. Oath. v -22. Seperation of David and Saul.
16: And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17: And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil.
18: And you have showed this day how that you have dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord (Yehovah) had delivered me into your hand, you killed me not.
19: For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?
wherefore the Lord (Yehovah) reward you good for that you have done to me this day.
20: And now, behold, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21: Swear now therefore to me by the Lord (Yehovah), that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.”
22: And David swore to Saul.
And Saul went home;
but David and his men got them up to the stronghold.
25)
1: And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him (as for a second Moses. Cp. Jer.15:1), and buried him near his house at Ramah.