CHAPTER XXI _David comes to Ahimelech at Nob, receives provisions from him,_ _and the sword of Goliath; and is noticed by Doeg, one of the_ _servants of Saul_, 1-9. _He leaves Nob, and goes to Achish, king of Gath_, 10. _But on being recognised as the vanquisher of Goliath by the_ _servants of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 21:2. _THE KING HATH COMMANDED ME A BUSINESS_] All said here is an untruth, and could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord; but there is no reason to believe that David was under the influence of Divine inspiration at this time. It is well known that from all antiquity it was hel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 21:6. _SO THE PRIEST GAVE HIM HALLOWED BREAD_] To this history our Lord alludes, Mark 2:25, in order to show that in cases of _absolute necessity_ a breach of the _ritual_ law was no sin. It was lawful for the priests only to eat the shew-bread; but David and his companions were starv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 21:7. _DETAINED BEFORE THE LORD_] Probably fulfilling some vow to the Lord, and therefore for a time resident at the tabernacle. _AND HIS NAME_ WAS _DOEG_] From 1 Samuel 22:9 we learn that this man betrayed David's secret to Saul, which caused him to destroy the city, and slay eighty... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 21:9. _THE SWORD OF GOLIATH_] It has already been conjectured (see 1 Samuel 17:1) that the sword of Goliath was laid up as a trophy in the tabernacle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 21:10. _WENT TO ACHISH THE KING OF GATH._] This was the worst place to which he could have gone: it was the very city of Goliath, whom he had slain, and whose sword he now wore; and he soon found, from the conversation of the servants of Achish, that his life was in the most imminent... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 21:13. _AND HE CHANGED HIS BEHAVIOUR_] Some imagine David was so _terrified_ at the danger to which he was now exposed, that he was thrown into a kind of _frenzy_, accompanied with _epileptic fits_. This opinion is countenanced by the _Septuagint_, who render the passage thus: Ιδου ιδ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 21:15. _SHALL THIS_ FELLOW _COME INTO MY HOUSE?_] I will not take into my service a man who is liable to so grievous a disease. _Chandler_, who vindicates David's _feigning himself, mad_, concludes thus: "To deceive the deceiver is in many instances meritorious, in none criminal. And... [ Continue Reading ]