2024-07-14 - 1 Samuel 21:1-15
1 Samuel 21
When David fled to Nob, it marked the beginning of an exile that lasted about ten years (21:1–29:11). Not all of David’s wilderness experiences are recorded, but enough history has been given to show us that he was a man of faith and courage. While it’s difficult to determine the background of every psalm, it’s likely that David’s fugitive years are reflected in Psalms 7, 11–13, 16–17, 22, 25, 31, 34–35, 52–54, 56–59, 63–64, 142–143.
Nob. “The city of the priests” (22:19). The priests dwelt on Mt. Scopus, about one mile northeast of Jerusalem. David went there for necessary supplies and for comfort and counsel.
there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women. Consecration, or purification, of soldiers prior to battle was a common practice in the ancient Near East, as in the OT (see note on Jos 3:5). Ritual purity would be all the more required before handling “consecrated bread,” usually reserved for the priests. Uncleanness could be brought about in various ways (see note on 20:26). Sexual intercourse could lead to a state of ritual uncleanness (see Lev 15:18 and note on Lev 15:16), and abstention was often ordered for a period prior to an auspicious occasion (Ex 19:15). Fear of contaminating the camp may have played some part in Uriah’s refusal to visit his wife Bathsheba (2Sa 11:11–12).
ephod. All three senses of the term “ephod” (see note on 2:18) have in common that they designate a sacred garment of some sort. In the ancient Near East, ornate vestments not only were worn by high officials but also sometimes adorned the statues of deities. In the present context, with the ark unavailable (6:21–7:2a), the ephod at Nob may have been the holiest relic of the sanctuary, lending plausibility to the notion that captured trophies such as Goliath’s sword would have been placed near it, as the ark had earlier been placed in the temple of Dagon (5:2).
pretended to be insane. Presumably, David went to Gath to offer his services as a mercenary. Theoretically the Philistines would have welcomed a military hero with motive to help depose their enemy, Saul. Instead, they remember David’s celebrated status as a killer of Philistines and distrust him. David’s feigned madness serves two purposes. First, the only reason they think he is the famous David is that he said he was; if he is insane, what he says has no significance. Second, madness is a divine affliction, similar to the ecstatic state experienced by the prophets. Because the prophet is possessed by a god, he must be allowed to live, but he is also not kept around. David is counting on both of these: being left alive and being turned out of (allowed to leave) the city.
To get himself out of this predicament, he pretended to be insane. His strategy worked. Verse 15 implies that David may have talked to some people and convinced them to take him to Achish. They did not know who David was. In connection with his experience at Gath, David composed Pss 34 and 56. The lesson David learned is that he could depend on the Lord’s faithfulness in protecting him even when he behaved in a fearful and desperate manner.