CONTENTS
The troubles of David are prosecuted in history through this chapter. Being driven from home, and like one banished the land, he visits Nob; receives from Ahimelech, the priest, hallowed bread: and the sword of Goliath, which was there. David hastens to Achish, at Gath; is but poorly received, and full of fears lest the men of Gath should betray him, he feigns himself mad. These are the principal points in this chapter.
(1) В¶ Then came David to 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?
Poor David, though the conqueror of Goliath, and the deliverer of his country, yet being proscribed by the king, and wandering about in the preservation of his life, excites fear in all that he approacheth. If what Doeg, the Edomite, told Saul be true, as is related in the succeeding chapter, (see 1 Samuel 22:9-10), the priest Ahimelech, enquired of the Lord about him; that is David came to the tabernacle to seek counsel from the Lord. And what more proper for a tried, exercised soul? Reader! it is sweet when our afflictions lead us to the Lord; and do not keep us from the Lord. Beloved Jesus! in his unequalled agonies, cried unto his Father; and in proportion as his sorrows increased, the more vehement was his prayer. Luke 22:44. It is not meant by Ahimelech's saying, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? that he had no company; for our blessed Lord in referring to this history of David, speaks of him and those that were with him, as eating of the show-bread. See Mark 2:26. But it means that David had no suit able companions, so that he looked as if he were in haste for his life, and which was really the case.