ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Samuel 21

1 Sam 21:1–26:25 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 determination to kill David. He destroys the priests of Nob for innocently aiding David, and whenever he gets some firm news of David, he pursues him with his whole army. David continues to respect Saul as king and does not kill him, even when he apparently has God-sent opportunities to do so.

1 Sam 21:1–23:29 Chapter 21 tells of David’s visit to the shrine at Nob and ch. 22 tells of the disastrous consequences of that visit. Throughout these chapters are various other stories of David’s flight from Saul.

1 Sam 21:1 Nob, a city between Jerusalem and Gibeah, apparently became the priestly city after the destruction of Shiloh. Ahimelech was the great-grandson of Eli. Jesus refers to this incident as being “in the time of Abiathar the high priest” (Mark 2:26), identifying Abiathar by the title he later held.

1 Sam 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 deaths of Ahimelech and the priests at Nob (22:9–19; see 22:22). Though David normally acted in an upright way, the Bible does not hesitate to record his wrongdoing.

1 Sam 21:4–5 Common bread, which might be eaten by anyone, is distinguished from holy bread, which, like sacrifices, could be eaten only by the “clean” (e.g., Lev. 10:10). Sexual contact was one source of uncleanness (Ex. 19:15; Lev. 15:18), especially on a military expedi­tion (see 2 Sam. 11:9–11; on the terms “clean” and “unclean,” see Introduction to Leviticus, Problems in Understanding Leviticus). The “holy bread” was the bread of the Presence (Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–9). Ahimelech was bending the rules, since only priests were allowed to eat the bread, and only in a holy place. However, Jesus endorsed Ahimelech’s judgment in responding with mercy rather than strict adherence to the ceremonial law.

1 Sam 21:7 Doeg. See 22:9–19.

1 Sam 21:10–15 David apparently had the idea of serving Achish (into my house, v. 15) as an anonymous mercenary, but he was recognized. It is not clear why they called David “king.” They may have been speaking ironically, mocking David. Or perhaps the Philistines used the word in a broader sense than it bore in Israel.

1 Sam 21:14 you see the man is mad. David pretended to be insane, and Achish was convinced of it. God was continuing to protect David.