1 Samuel 21:1-15
Q.1. Did David flee alone? What did he ask the priest? Under what conditions did Ahimelech provide them with consecrated bread? How did Jesus apply this incident? – (1 Sam.21:1-7 c.f. Mt.12:1-6)
Why did Ahimelech ask David – Why are you alone with no one with you? (1 Sam.21:1). David did have a group of men with him. This was the reason why the priest was reluctant to give the consecrated bread – if only the young men have kept themselves from women (1 Sam.21:4 c.f. Mt.12:3-4). David usually travelled with soldiers, but the men with him were also fleeing Saul, and probably had baggage with them (c.f. 1 Sam.22:2; 30:24). Ahimelech rightly understood that sustaining life superseded keeping rules. In spite of David’s claim that he was on a secret mission, the priest in no way compromised his responsibilities (1 Sam.21:2-6 c.f. Mt.12:1-7). The way he used the bread of the Presence, complied with the spirit of the Sabbath as expounded by Jesus – The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath (Mk.2:27 c.f. Mk.2:21-28).
Q.2. Who was Doeg? What else did Ahimelech give David? Where did David go? Did the people of Gath receive David? How did David escape captivity by Achish, king of Gath? – (1 Sam.21:7-15)
Doeg was an Edomite and a blood-thirsty traitor (1 Sam.21:7 c.f. 1 Sam.23:18-19). The Edomites, especially the Amalekites, were the descendants of Esau, and held a deep-seated hatred for Israel, the descendants of Jacob (Gen.36:8). He was a servant of Saul, and chief shepherd of Saul’s flocks. David asked Ahimelech for weapons and took possession of Goliath’s sword (1 Sam.21:8-9). In his panic, David fled to the territory belonging to the Philistines, and was taken to Achish, king of Gath, whose servants reminded him – Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousand’s? (1 Sam.21:11). David knew that he was in serious trouble, – … and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard (1 Sam.21:13). The Philistines let him go (1 Sam.21:14-15).