1 Samuel 21:8-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:1-9

Here, I. David, in distress, flies in the tabernacle of God, now pitched at Nob, supposed to be a city in the tribe of Benjamin. Since Shiloh was forsaken, the tabernacle was often removed, though the ark still remained at Kirjath-jearim. Hither David came in his flight from Saul's fury (1 Sam. 21:1), and applied to Ahimelech the priest. Samuel the prophet could not protect him, Jonathan the prince could not. He therefore has recourse next to Ahimelech the priest. He foresees he must now be an... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:10-15

David, though king elect, is here an exile?designed to be master of vast treasures, yet just now begging his bread?anointed to the crown, and yet here forced to flee from his country. Thus do God's providences sometimes seem to run counter to his promises, for the trial of his people's faith, and the glorifying of his name, in the accomplishment of his counsels, notwithstanding the difficulties that lay in the way. Here is, 1. David's flight into the land of the Philistines, where he hoped to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8

And David said unto Ahimelech ,.... After he had given him some of the loaves of the shewbread: and is there not here under thine hand spear or sword ? any weapon, meaning in the tabernacle, and in his keeping, and at his disposal; he knew the sword of Goliath was there, and perhaps had a principal view to it, and put this question in order to get that in his possession: for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me ; neither his sword, nor any part of his armour, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:9

And the priest said, the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah ,.... See 1 Samuel 17:2 , behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod ; the garment of the high priest, in which were the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, or the linen vestments of the priests; see 1 Samuel 22:18 ; which were laid up in a chamber for their use; and behind them the sword of Goliath was wrapped up in a linen cloth, and reserved as a monument of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:10

And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul ,.... He had fled before for fear of him both from his own house, and from Naioth, 1 Samuel 19:18 ; but now he fled out of the land of Israel, for fear of him; or it may be the reason of his fear and flight on this day was because of Doeg the Edomite, lest he should go directly to Saul, and tell him where he was; and therefore through fear of him would not stay any longer, but the same day he came, he fled: and went to Achish the king... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:11

And the servants of Achish said unto him ,.... Who knew who David was, and perceiving that he was respected by Achish: is not this David the king of the land ? of the land of the Philistines; so some render the words, "the king of this land" F17 מלך הארץ "rex hujus regionis", Vatablus. ; which belongs unto him for his conquest of Goliath; for this was what was proposed by him, that whoever was the conqueror should possess the kingdom; and seeing it belongs to him, O Achish,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:12

And David laid up these words in his heart ,.... Pondered upon them, and thought them over in his mind, finding that he was known, and his character also, and considered with himself what might be the consequence of this: and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath ; lest he should be set against him, and be prevailed upon by his servants to take away his life, or deliver him up into the hands of Saul. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:13

And he changed his behaviour before them ,.... Behaved like a fool, or a madman: or changed his "taste" F19 טעמו "sensum suum", Montanus, Vatablus; "sermonem suum", Pagninus. ; which some understand of his reason, acted as if he was deprived of it; and others of his speech, his words and the accent of them, drawled them out, as such persons do: and feigned himself mad in their hands ; for in their hands he was, being taken by them, as the title of the fifty sixth psalm shows, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:14

Then said Achish to his servants, lo, you see the man is mad ,.... Which he said, as willing his servants should think so, and therefore rather the object of their pity than of their rage and malice; or as really believing he was so, which he and they might conclude not merely from these his actions, before described, which they might judge real and not feigned; but they might suppose this was truly his case, brought upon him by the ill usage of Saul, who pursuing him from place to place,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:15

Have I need of madmen ?.... Or fools, do I want them? have not I enough of them already at my court? I want wise men, and not fools and madmen. The Jews say F23 Midrash Tillim apud Abarbinel. in loc. that the wife and daughter of Achish were mad; that while David was playing the fool and madman without, they were acting the same part within; so that Achish had enough of that sort of diversion, if it was to be reckoned such; as it was according to the taste of some persons, who used, as... read more

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