Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Samuel · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
Verſ. 1. THen came David to Nob to Ahimelech the Prieſt, &c.] It is of no great importance to know whether this Nob were that without Jordan in the tribe of Manaſſeh, which is called Nobah, Numb. 32.42. and Judg. 8.11. or that in the tribe of Benjamin near to Anathoth, and therefore joyned often with Anathoth, as in Neh. 11.32. yet moſt probable it is that it was that within Jordan in the tribe of Benjamin: for certain it is that here the tabernacle was, though the Ark was at Kiriathjearim, chap. 7.1.) as is evident verſ. 9. where it is ſaid, that the ſword of Goliath was here wrapt up in a cloth behind the ephod: And well it may be which ſome conceive, that as the Tabernacle was placed in Shiloh, a city of Ephraim in the dayes of Joſhua, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, and the Ark was in the tribe of Judah in Davids time; ſo likewiſe in the dayes of Saul who was of Benjamin, by his adviſe and for his benefit, the Tabernacle was removed from Shiloh to Nob, which belonged to his tribe, and hereupon it was that there were ſo many Prieſts dwelling here at Nob, in regard whereof it is called the citie of the Prieſts, chap. 22.19. to wit, that they might attend upon the ſervice of the Tabernacle: for in the 21. chapter of Joſhua, where the cities are expreſſed that were given to the Prieſts, we do not find Nob mentioned amongſt them: and doubtleſſe David being reſolved to flie for his ſafety out of the land, came hither firſt, not onelyonly to get there a ſupply for his wants, but alſo eſpecially to viſit the Tabernacle, that he might there worſhip the Lord before his departure, and ſeek unto him for help and comfort in this houre of adverſity. Though he could not but know that there was much danger of being diſcovered here, becauſe hither to the Tabernacle, they came from all places of the land: yet he would not neglect the viſiting of this houſe of God, before he fled out of the kingdome. As for this Ahimelech, the Prieſt to whom David addreſſed himſelf for ſuccour, either it was the ſame that is before called Ahiah, who was with Saul in Migron, chap. 14.3. or elſe Ahiah and Ahimelech were brothers (for as it is there ſaid of Ahiah that he was the ſonne of Ahitub; ſo alſo it is ſaid of this Ahimelech, chap. 20.9.) and Ahiah being dead, Ahimelech his brother was now high Prieſt in his room: yea, it may ſeem that this Ahimelech was alſo called Abiathar: for Mark 2.26. it is ſaid, that David went into the houſe of God in the dayes of Abiathar the high Prieſt, and did eat the ſhew-bread: unleſſe we ſay, as ſome do that Abiathar there by our Saviour mentioned, was that Abiathar that was the ſon of this Ahimelech, chap. 22.20. becauſe he ſtood by (as the ſecond Prieſt) and did conſent to give the ſhewbread to David, and that he is there called the high Prieſt, becauſe he did afterward ſucceed his father in that place.
And Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and ſaid unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?] Chriſt ſaith, Mark 2.26. that David did not onelyonly eat the ſhew-bread himſelf, but gave it alſo to them that were with him: It is evident therefore that he had now ſome of his ſervants, whom perhaps Jonathan had ſent after him▪ going along with him, to whom he carried part of the ſhewbread; but thoſe he had left in ſome other place, as himſelf ſaith verſ. 2. I have appointed my ſervants to ſuch and ſuch a place, and came alone to the tabernacle, which Ahimelech could not but much wonder at, and be troubled about it, as fearing that he was fled from Saul, and that if it were ſo, it would be dangerous for him to give him entertainment.
Verſ. 2. And David ſaid unto Ahimelech the Prieſt, the king hath commanded me a buſineſſe, &c.] And thus that he might procure from Ahimelech food for himſelf and his ſervants, David did not onelyonly conceal the buſineſſe of his fleeing from Saul; but alſo told him a direct lie, that Saul had ſent him about a ſecret buſineſſe, and enjoyned him to let no body know of it, and ſo he had appointed his ſervants to meet him elſewhere; and what was the iſſue of this? ſurely it proved the occaſion of Sauls ſlaying Ahimelech, and the reſt of the Prieſts of that citie, foureſcore and and five perſons that wore a linen ephod; yea, of the utter deſtruction of the citie and all the inhabitants thereof, both men, women, and children, as we reade in the following chapter, verſ. 18, 19. A ſad calamity; juſt cauſe had Dauid to rue theſe lies of his ſo long as he lived, and ſo no doubt he did, we ſee he charged it upon himſelf when Abiathar brought him the tidings of it, chap. 22.22. I have occaſioned, ſaith he, the death of all the perſons of thy fathers houſe; and it is thought that the remorſe for this very ſinne, was freſh in his heart, when he wrote that paſſage in the 119. Pſalme, v. 28, 29. My ſoul melteth away for heavineſſe, ſtrengthen thou me according to thy word: Remove from me the way of lying, &c.
Verſ. 4. And the Priest anſwered David, and ſaid, There is no common bread under my hand.] There is no queſtion but the high Prieſt had in his houſe bread enough, provided for thoſe of his family; but it ſeems David was in ſuch haſte, that he would not ſtay for any, but what was there in a readineſſe in the Tabernacle, that he might take it preſently and be gone; and as it follows, verſ. 6. there was no bread there but the ſhew-bread; and therefore it was too that Ahimelech uſed that expreſſion, There is no common bread under mine hand.
But there is hallowed bread▪ if the young men have kept themſelves at leaſt from women.] By the Law of God the Prieſts were onelyonly to eat of the ſhew-bread, Lev. 24.9. yet the Prieſt knowing well that charity is to be preferred before all ceremonies, and that in caſe of neceſſity the ceremoniall Law was to give way to the morall, he condeſcended to relieve them with the ſhew-bread; and what he did herein is approved by Chriſt, Matth. 12.3, 4. yet withall he addes this condition, If the young men have kept themſelves at leaſt from women, whether their wives or others. Indeed if this had not been ſo▪ the ſame neceſſity that diſpenſed with one part of the ceremony, might diſpence with the other, had they been legally unclean in regard of carnall copulation, according to that law, Lev. 15.18. The woman alſo with whom man ſhall lie with ſeed of copulation, they ſhall both bath themſelves: they muſt not therefore have ſtarved rather then have eaten of the ſhew-bread: but in this caſe a double impediment would have made the caſe the more queſtionable; and therefore the Prieſt addes this clauſe, If the young men have kept themſelves, at leaſt from women.
Verſ. 5. Women have been kept from us about theſe three dayes▪ ſince I came out, and the veſſels of the young men are holy.] By the veſſels of the young men is meant their bodies, according to thoſe expreſſions; 1. Theſſ. 4.3.4. For this is the will of God, that you abſtain from fornication, that every one of you ſhould know how to poſſeſſe his veſſel in ſanctification: and 2. Cor. 4.7. But we have this treaſure in earthen veſſels: yet it may be meant too of all they had about them.
And the bread is in a manner common, &c.] That is, it is as any other ordinary bread prepared to be the food of the prieſts: Had it been ſtanding upon the table before the Lord it had been another matter, but being taken thence▪ though it were ſanctified this day in the veſſel▪ however it was reſerved onelyonly to the prieſts becauſe it had been hallowed to the Lord, yet to them it was but as any other common bread, and therefore he needed the leſſe to ſcruple in caſe of neceſſity, to give to others.
Verſ. 7, Now a certain man of the ſervants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord, and his name was Doeg, an Edomite.] To wit, by birth, or becauſe he had dwelt there, as upon the ſame ground, chap. 26.6. Ahimelech is called the Hittite: yet in profeſſion of Religion he was an Iſraelite; (for why elſe was he now detained in the tabernacle, to wit, by ſome vow?) but a wicked wretched man he was known to be; a man of ill fame, and therefore now feared by David, Chap. 22.22. And David ſaid unto Abiathar, I knew that day, that Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would ſurely tell Saul.
Verſ. 8. And David ſaid unto Ahimelech, and is there not here under thy hand a ſpear or ſword?] This he ſpake no doubt, as deſiring Goliaths ſword.
Verſ. 10. And David aroſe that day, and fled for fear of Saul, and went to Achiſh the king of Gath.] That is, he fled into his countrey. This Achiſh is in the title of the thirty fourth Pſalme called Abimelech; which was the uſuall title of the kings of the Philiſtines, Gen. 20.2. Doubtleſſe he hoped here to have ſojourned unknown; but however, though he could not but apprehend much danger in flying thither; becauſe the Philiſtines were at preſent deadly enemies to the Iſraelites, and his name was above all others abhorred amongſt them, in regard of the many victories he had gotten over them, and the cruell ſlaughters he had made amongſt them, and particularly, for his killing of Goliath who was of Gath, chap. 17.4. Yet ſuch was Sauls rage and Davids fear, that he had more hope of ſafety there, then in the land of Iſrael.
Verſ. 11. And the ſervants of Achiſh ſaid unto him, Is not this David, the king of the land? &c.] Having diſcovered and caught David, as it is in the title of the 56. Pſalme, Michtam of David, when the Philiſtines took him in Gath, they brought him to Achiſh and made known who he was, that he might conſider what was fit to be done with him, Is not this David, ſay they, the king of the land; that is, a prince or ruler in the land, or, is not this David that is deſigned to be king in the land; for it may well be thought, that the report that David ſhould be king, and that Saul perſecuted him becauſe of this, was now ſo rife and common in Iſrael, that it was ſpread even unto the land of the Philiſtines.
Verſ. 13. And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himſelf mad, &c.] Yet ſtill withall he ſought by prayer to God, his hope being in him (though he uſed this plot as a means of eſcape) as appears by the 34. and 56. Pſalmes, which were made by him at this time and upon this occaſion; and indeed, had not the Lord infatuated Achiſh, whereby it was that he altogether ſleighted the matter, how eaſily might this diſſimulation of Davids have been diſcovered in time?