1 Samuel 21

1Then cameH935 David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech cameH935 to meet David trembling, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? 2And DavidH1732 saidH559 unto AhimelechH288 the priestH3548, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath saidH559 unto me, Let no manH376 know anything of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed the young menH376 to such and such a place. 3Now therefore what is under thy hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatsoever there is present. 4And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common breadH3899 under my handH3027, but there is holy breadH3899; if only the young men have kept themselves from women. 5And DavidH1732 answered the priestH3548, and saidH559 unto him, Of a truth womenH802 have been keptH8104 from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the youngH5288 menH5288 were holyH6944, though it was but a common journey; how much more then to-day shall their vessels be holyH6944? 6So the priestH3548 gave him holyH6944 bread; for there wasH1961 no bread there but the showbread, that wasH1961 taken from before Jehovah, to put hot bread in the dayH3117 when it wasH1961 taken away.

7Now a certain man of the servants of Saul wasH1961 there that dayH3117, detained before Jehovah; and his name wasH1961 Doeg the Edomite, the chiefest of the herdsmen that belongedH1961 to Saul. 8And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste. 9And the priest saidH559, The swordH2719 of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the vale of Elah, behold, it is hereH6311 wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt takeH3947 that, takeH3947 it; for there is no other save that hereH6311. And DavidH1732 saidH559, There is none like that; give it me.

10And DavidH1732 arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11And the servants of AchishH397 said unto him, Is not this DavidH1732 the kingH4428 of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying,

12And DavidH1732 laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of AchishH397 the kingH4428 of Gath. 13And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad; wherefore then have ye broughtH3381 him to me? 15Do I lack madmen, that ye have broughtH935 this fellow to play the madmanH7696 in my presence? shall this fellow comeH935 into my house?