1 Samuel 21

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 21

1¶ Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee?

2And 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: and I have appointed [my] servants to such and such a place.

3Now therefore what is under thine hand? give [me] five [loaves of] bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

4And the priest answered David, and said, [There is] no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

5And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women [have been] kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and [the bread is] in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

6So the priest gave him hallowed [bread]: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

7Now a certain man of the servants of Saul [was] there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name [was] Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that [belonged] to Saul.

8And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

9And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it [is here] wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take [it]: for [there is] no other save that here. And David said, [There is] none like that; give it me.

10¶ And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11And the servants of Achish said unto him, [Is] not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

12And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

14Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore [then] have ye brought him to me?

15Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this [fellow] to play the mad man in my presence? shall this [fellow] come into my house?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

David, fleeing Saul, arrives at Nob and deceives Ahimelech the priest to obtain hallowed bread and Goliath's sword. He then seeks refuge in Gath, where King Achish's servants recognize him. To escape capture, David feigns madness, leading Achish to dismiss him.

Medium Summary

Chapter 21 recounts David's desperate flight from King Saul. He first goes to Nob, where he encounters Ahimelech the priest, fabricating a story about a secret royal mission to secure provisions. Ahimelech, having no common bread, provides the hallowed shewbread, which David claims his men are ritually clean to consume. He also gives David Goliath's sword, which had been kept there. A man named Doeg the Edomite, a servant of Saul, is present during this encounter. Fearing Saul further, David then seeks refuge in Gath, a Philistine city. However, King Achish's servants recognize David as the celebrated warrior, causing David great fear. To avoid capture or harm, David cleverly feigns madness, scribbling on gates and letting spittle fall, which convinces Achish to send him away.

Long Summary

The twenty-first chapter of 1 Samuel details David's perilous journey as he flees from King Saul's relentless pursuit. His initial destination is Nob, where he seeks aid from Ahimelech the priest. Upon seeing David alone, Ahimelech expresses concern, prompting David to invent a tale of a clandestine mission from the king, emphasizing the need for secrecy and haste. David requests five loaves of bread, and Ahimelech informs him that only hallowed bread, specifically the shewbread, is available, contingent upon the young men's ritual purity. David assures the priest that his men have maintained their purity for three days, asserting that the bread, though sanctified, can be considered common in their urgent need. Consequently, Ahimelech provides David with the consecrated bread, as no other provisions were at hand. Significantly, Doeg the Edomite, a chief herdsman of Saul, is present at Nob during this critical exchange. David then inquires about a weapon, having brought none due to his fabricated hasty departure. Ahimelech reveals that Goliath's sword, which David himself had taken, is preserved behind the ephod. David eagerly accepts this iconic weapon, declaring its unparalleled quality. Following this, David departs Nob and flees to Gath, a Philistine city, seeking asylum from Saul. However, his presence is quickly noted by the servants of King Achish, who recognize him as the renowned Israelite warrior about whom songs were sung, celebrating his victories over "ten thousands." David becomes exceedingly afraid upon realizing he is recognized in enemy territory. In a desperate act of self-preservation, he alters his demeanor, feigning insanity before them. He scribbles on the city gates and allows spittle to run down his beard, presenting himself as a madman. King Achish, observing this bizarre behavior, questions why his servants have brought a madman to him, stating he has no need for such individuals in his household, and dismisses David. This strategic deception allows David to escape the immediate danger posed by the Philistines.

Core Concepts

  • David's DeceptionDavid fabricates a story about a secret royal mission to Ahimelech the priest, a necessary falsehood to obtain provisions and a weapon while fleeing Saul.
  • Hallowed Bread (Shewbread)Ahimelech provides David with the consecrated shewbread from the tabernacle, which was typically reserved for priests, highlighting David's desperate circumstances and the priest's compassionate response.
  • Goliath's SwordDavid reclaims the sword of Goliath, the Philistine he slew, which had been kept in the sanctuary at Nob, symbolizing his past victory and providing him with a crucial weapon for his flight.
  • Doeg's PresenceDoeg the Edomite, a servant of Saul, is present at Nob during David's encounter with Ahimelech, foreshadowing his later role in reporting David's actions to Saul.
  • Seeking Asylum in GathDavid seeks refuge in Gath, a Philistine city, demonstrating his extreme desperation to escape Saul's pursuit, even venturing into enemy territory.
  • Feigning MadnessTo escape recognition and potential harm from King Achish and his servants in Gath, David strategically feigns insanity, a clever tactic that leads to his dismissal and allows him to escape.