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Where did David go when he had
parted from Jonathan? First, he went to Nob, in Benjamin, where the
tabernacle was; and there he saw Ahimelech the priest. David knew
that he could not now go often to worship God in the holy place; he must
hide from Saul, and escape to save his life. And it made David
unhappy to think of this, because he loved the worship of God.
Ahimelech wondered very much to see David, and he asked why he came.
Did David tell him? No: David was afraid to speak the truth;
he was tempted to tell a lie. He said, "King Saul sent me here
upon secret business. He commanded me not to say what the business
is. Give me, I pray thee, some of the bread I see there."
The bread which Ahimelech had was the shew-bread. It was hallowed
bread; the priests alone might eat it; but Ahimelech gave some to David,
and the men with him, because they were hungry, and could get no common
bread. Then David asked the priest to give him some armor.
Ahimelech had there the sword of Goliath, and he showed it to David.
David was pleased to see it again, for it made him remember how God had
helped him to conquer and kill the great giant, a little time
before. Then Ahimelech gave David the sword, and let him go. Where
did David go? He went to Gath, to king Achish. Achish was a
kind king; but he was a Philistine, and his people did not like David to
be there, because they remembered what he had done, in past times, to the
Philistines. And David was unhappy at Gath; for he was afraid of
Achish and his people; he thought that perhaps they might kill him, or
tell Saul about him. Did David trust God in his danger?
Yes: but David was a poor weak sinner, and very often fear made him
forget God, and do what was wrong. Fear had made him tell a lie to
Ahimelech, at Nob; and now fear made him deceitful again to Achish, at
Gath. He pretended to be mad, and ran about wildly, and scratched
upon the doors, and did many more foolish things. Then Achish sent
him away, and David went and hid in a cave; and there all his family and
friends came to him, to comfort him.
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