1 Samuel 21:1-6 -- The date is approximately 1039 BC. From his last meeting with Jonathan, in the vicinity of Gibeah, David headed south to the area of Jerusalem. Recall that at this time, there was still a garrison of Jebusites on the high ridge above the actual ancient city of Jerusalem. Already David had favored this place by displaying there the trophy of his battle with Goliath. David had a love for this area, though any reasons we might find are mere speculation.
Just a mile north of Jerusalem, on a ridge, was Nob. This may well be one of officially sanctioned "high places" dedicated to the worship of Jehovah. Sometime during Saul's reign, the old Tabernacle of Moses was in use once again, or a copy of it, erected on top. Proper worship took place according the ceremonial law. However, the Ark of the Covenant had not yet been moved. Perhaps Samuel did not yet trust the these priests to guard it again, since it was Eli's sin that caused it's loss. The entire village belonged to the family of Ahitub. From 14:3 we are reminded that Ahitub was Ichabod's brother, the man born when the Ark of Covenant was taken by the Philistines. The prophecy had been that any surviving members of Eli's household would be fortunate indeed if Samuel allowed them to remain in the priesthood. It would appear that Samuel was rather kind to them, after all. Surely it was he who raised anew the wilderness worship center, and employed the survivors of Eli's household to serve in it. If one stood on the southern brow of Nob's ridge, he could see the top of Mount Moriah, soon to be called Zion.
On duty that day was Ahimelech ("Brother of the King"), son of Ahitub. When David arrived there, he had already been without food since fleeing his own home in the evening two days before. Whether we see sin in David's lie to the priest is a matter of perspective. It may well be he intended to protect the priest from knowing the situation, preserving his innocence from knowingly aiding a fugitive. Either way, it was still a lack of faith on David's part. He should have allowed the priest the option to turn him away. From Jesus' words, we learn that there was no sin in David eating this bread (Matthew 12:1-8). It had been the Bread of Presence from the past week, now recently replaced by a fresh batch on the Sabbath (Leviticus 24:5-9). By Hebrew reckoning, David had not engaged in sex for at least three days, which is the only condition the priest raised.
21:7-9 -- Doeg ("Anxious") was Edomite, a descendant of Esau. For reasons we aren't told he was detained at the Tabernacle in Nob. Possibilities include some cermonial uncleaness, or suspicion of leprosy. His position was Chief Herdsman for Saul. Such a job would mean he was Saul's manager for all the king's personal herd animals. Rather than work in the fields, he remained at court, though hardly as an advisor. Saul's royal court was rather primitive, and his "palace" was little more than a large house with one fairly large room. Thus, the distinction between a royal advisor and a personal servant was obscured by the informal nature of things. Saul was far closer to ancient warlord, rather than our idea of a king.
Doeg observed David's meeting with Ahimelech. When David asked for a weapon, the only thing at hand was the sword of Goliath, brought there by David himself some time during the past year. It would have been stored in a cloth that had been soaked in oil. The sword would be one of the few iron weapons taken from the Philistines. Successive battles wherein such weapons were captured had helped this situation some, but we can be sure Goliath's old sword would have been unique. The primitive Bronze Age swords would be reliable only if kept at about 12 inches (30cm) in length. Ancient wrought iron would allow something just over 24 inches (60cm) or so. Goliath easily had strength for larger weapons, but the material itself would have set limits, though perhaps this one would be bit heavier than usual. It would have been custom made for his hands, probably twice the breadth of David's, allowing him to use with both hands for swinging.
21:10-15 -- With the food and weapon he got from the Tabernacle, David made his way southwest to Gath, by now just across the border in Philistine territory, toward the southern end of Palestine. The wording here indicates he went with the intent to serve perhaps in the court of Achish, king of the city, who would also be known among the Hebrews by the title Abimelech. The king's advisors warned this David was the de facto ruler of the Hebrews, and mentioned the victory chant that praised David as a better warrior than Saul. With no place to go for the time being, David made himself non-threatening by feigning insanity. He would go to the gates of the city and make indecipherable scratches on the wooden doors with stones. He would appear to drool into his beard. We get the picture of a man who might wander about conversing with inanimate objects, and generally demonstrating no contact with reality. When the king's guards brought David in, the king reacted with distaste, declaring he suffered no shortage of insane clowns.
22:1-2 -- As soon as they let him go, David went back toward his home. About halfway between Gath and Bethlehem, just about an hour's walk east of the valley where David killed Goliath, is the city of Adullam. It's former king had joined the resistance to the Conquest, and the city had been given to Judah. While there is no direct evidence to identify any of the caves in this area as David's favorite hideout, there is one that seems to fit the description. On the south face of a wadi is a cliff that opens with a 7-foot (2m) circular hole. There is a narrow passage to a small room. From there, a winding passage opens into a massive hall of approximately 5000 square feet (465 sq. meters), with numerous ante-rooms. Nothing else in the area comes close.
Word of David's presence there got back to his family. The whole household joined him, as it was common in those days that whole villages could be destroyed for the crimes of one resident. Soon, anyone with a complaint against Saul's increasingly mad regime joined with David. In a short time, he had gathered a small army of 400 men.
22:3-5 -- Rather than risk his family's safety in this military hideout, David visited the king of Moab to seek refuge for them. For a time, David and his men stayed in Moab's fortress. Here we have the first appearance of the prophet Gad, who later became David's Chief Seer. At his urging, David left the Moabite stronghold and returned to Judah. We cannot identify the Forest of Hareth or Chereth, but it seems to be the time and place where David's royal bodyguard formed. They became known as the "Cherethites."
22:6-8 -- Saul was holding court in the shade of a tamerisk tree, likely indicating this was during the hot season, July or August. As was Saul's habit, he sat with a javelin in his hand as a scepter. That he calls his attendants "Benjamites" indicates he had little loyalty among the other tribes by now. This is the habit of petty tribal rulers. He indicates that David, from the Tribe of Judah, would act no differently. If king, Saul alleges that David would give all the positions of importance to men from Judah. We see later this is quite the opposite, as David strives to be so inclusive as to risk losing his own tribe's loyalty. Saul makes the mad claim that his servants are conspiring against him. "If you really loved me, you'd have told me that my son was against me, and where David is hiding!" His impatience and obsession are palpable.
22:9-10 -- Doeg's position would normally keep him silent. He's a personal servant of Saul, and not a member of the War Council. Because this position leaves him clear of the charges Saul makes, and as a foreigner eager to promote himself with Saul, Doeg speaks about the meeting between David and Ahimelech. It is almost certain he knows where this will lead. It is also certain he knew the priests were not guilty of knowingly aiding David. He is willing that any should die for his advancement. He is true to his name, Anxious to ingratiate himself.
22:11-19 -- From the time a messenger is sent, it would have taken a couple of hours or so for the priests of Nob to be assembled before Saul. His accusation is dramatic and full of lies. Ahimelech speaks truly that no one was more loyal than David, so that this whole business was unnecessary. That was hardly the first time Ahimelech used the ephod on David's behalf to inquire of God. Otherwise, the priest would have indeed been in rebellion, refusing to aid the king's best servant and son-in-law. He rightly professed no knowledge of Saul's warrant for David's arrest.
There's no question Saul was wrong all the way through on this. If he had any complaint against the priests, it should have gone to Samuel to judge, for he was the High Priest still. Ahimelech's answers were manly and accurate. The king is the one who should be on trial. Saul took it as arrogance and condemned him on the spot. The Benjamites knew better than to break the law, but Saul could count on his good servant, the foreign-born Doeg, to do the job. Saul further gave Doeg the honor of destroying their village, as well, killing every living thing. The text indicates the site became defiled by the massacre. We know the Tabernacle was moved from there, as it shows up later on the hilltop above Gibeon.
22:20-23 -- One of the priest's family escaped, Abiathar ("Father of Abundance"). Since it's unlikely they would have left the Tabernacle completely unattended, it's probable he was left in charge. He may have been able to catch wind of the whole thing before Doeg got to him. He fled to David in the Forest of Hareth. His report of the massacre caused David great chagrin. Having seen Doeg there, he should have simply gone on his way. By staying to seek support, he doomed the whole village. The least David could do was promise to protect the priest by keeping him close. If David survived, according to God's annointing and promise, so would Abiathar.
In yet one more way, the Lord had left Saul. Samuel refused to see Saul. The only other priest capable of inquiring of God now stood before David.
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Ed Hurst
08 May 2004
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