David and the Holy Bread
1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. AndAhimelech wasafraid when he met David, and said to him, “Whyareyou alone, and no one is with you?”
2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directedmyyoung men to such and such a place.
3 Now therefore, what have you on hand? Givemefiveloavesofbread in my hand, or whatever can be found.”
4 And the priest answered David and said, “Thereisno common bread on hand; but there isholy bread,if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.”
5 Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, womenhavebeenkept from us about three days since I came out. And thevessels of the young men are holy, andthebreadisin effect common, even though it was consecratedin the vessel this day.”
6 So the priestgave him holybread;for there was no bread there but the showbreadwhich had been taken from before theLord, in order to put hot breadinitsplaceon the day when it was taken away.
7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saulwasthere that day, detained before theLord. And his namewasDoeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen whobelongedto Saul.
8 And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”
9 So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed inthe Valley of Elah,there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, takeit.Forthereisno other except that one here.”
And David said, “Thereisnone like it; give it to me.”
David Flees to Gath
10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
11 Andthe servants of Achish said to him, “Isthis not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying:
# ‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
12 Now Davidtook these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13 Sohe changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.
14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me?
15 Have I need of madmen, that you have brought thisfellowto play the madman in my presence? Shall thisfellowcome into my house?”