SECTION 4. The Years of Preparation In The Wilderness (21:1-26:25).
A). David Becomes An Outlaw And Forms A Private Army (21:1-22:23).
In this subsection David, having become a refugee and not daring to return home for provisions or weapons, obtains both provisions and weapons from Ahimelech the Priest on false pretences, followed by resulting humiliation in Gath. Eventually he takes shelter in the Cave of Adullam, where his brothers, together with many discontented men, gather to join him with the result that he is able to establish the private army which will be the basis of his future success. Unfortunately Ahimelech is meanwhile falsely accused before Saul and as a result, (such is Saul's state of mind), he and his fellow-priests are put to death.
Subsection Analysis.
a The Refugee David Visits Ahimelech The Priest And Obtains Provisions (1 Samuel 21:1-7).
b David Obtains The Sword Of Goliath And Goes To Gath, Only To Have To Feign Madness And Return To Judah (1 Samuel 21:8-15).
c David Goes To The Cave Of Adullam And Gathers A Private Army (1 Samuel 22:1-2).
b David Goes To Moab And Seeks Refuge For His Parents, Remaining In A ‘Stronghold' There Until He Is Told To Return To Judah (1 Samuel 22:3-4).
a Ahimelech Is Called To Account For Provisioning David And As A Result He And The Priests Of Nob Are Slaughtered (1 Samuel 22:5-19).
Note that in ‘a' David seeks help from Ahimelech which is gladly given and in the parallel Ahimelech is executed for his pains. In ‘b' David goes to a foreign country, but soon returns, and in the parallel does the same. In both cases he immediately returns to Israel. Centrally he goes to the Cave of Adullam where he gathers the basis of the private army which will stand him in such good stead in the future.