Chapter 1: The Priest and the Sword

David had been one of the most honored men in Israel. He had killed Goliath, led Saul's armies to victory, and married the king's daughter. But Saul's admiration turned to jealousy when the women of Israel sang that Saul had killed his thousands but David his ten thousands. From that moment, Saul wanted him dead. He threw a spear at David twice inside the palace. He sent soldiers to David's house to kill him in the night. David's wife Michal lowered him through a window. Jonathan, Saul's own son, warned him that his father would not stop.

So David ran. He fled from Gibeah, Saul's royal city, and arrived at Nob alone and without supplies.

Nob was a priestly city just north of Jerusalem, where the tabernacle of the Lord stood. The priest Ahimelech saw him coming and went out to meet him, trembling. A man of his rank never traveled without an escort.

AHIMELECH“Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”— 1 Samuel 21:1

David lied. He told Ahimelech the king had sent him on a secret and urgent mission and that his men were waiting at a certain place. Then he asked if Ahimelech had any bread he could take.

Ahimelech had only the bread of the Presence. Only the priests were permitted to eat it. But Ahimelech gave it to David anyway.

Then David told Ahimelech:

DAVID“The king's business was so urgent that I brought neither sword nor spear. Do you have any weapon here?”— 1 Samuel 21:8

AHIMELECH“The only sword here is the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah. It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.”— 1 Samuel 21:9

DAVID“There is none like it. Give it to me.”

But David and Ahimelech were not alone. A man named Doeg the Edomite was there that day, fulfilling a religious obligation at the sanctuary before the Lord. Doeg was the chief of Saul's shepherds. He saw everything and said nothing.