1 Samuel 21
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21:1 Then came David to a 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? (a) Where the ark then was to ask counsel of the Lord.
21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The b 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. (b) These infirmities that we see in the saints of God, teach us that no one has his justice in himself, but receives it from Gods mercy.
21:4 And 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 c women. (c) If they have not accompanied with their wives.
21:5 And 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 d vessels of the young men are holy, and [the bread is] in a manner common, yea, though it e were sanctified this day in the vessel. (d) That is, their bodies.
21:7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul [was] there that day, f detained before the LORD; and his name [was] Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that [belonged] to Saul.
(e) Shall be more careful to keep his vessel holy, when he has eaten of this holy food. (f) Tarrying to worship before the ark.
21:9 And 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 g 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. (g) Behind that place where the high priests garment lay.
21:10 And David arose, and h fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. (h) That is, out of Sauls domain.
21:13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and i scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. (i) By making marks and toys.
21:15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this [fellow] to play the mad man in my presence? k shall this [fellow] come into my house? (k) Is he fit to be in a kings house.