1 Samuel 21

(Matthew 12:1–8; Mark 2:23–28; Luke 6:1–5)

1Then DavidH1732 cameH935 to NobH5011, toH413 AhimelechH288 the priestH3548. And when AhimelechH288 metH7122 DavidH1732, he trembledH2729 and askedH559 him, “WhyH4069 are youH859 aloneH905? Why isH376 no oneH369 with youH854?”

2“The kingH4428 has given meH6680 a missionH1697,” DavidH1732 repliedH559. “He toldH559 meH413 no oneH376H408 is to knowH3045 aboutH853 the missionH1697 on whichH834 IH595 am sending youH7971H834H6680. AndH853 I have directedH3045 my young menH5288 to meet meH413 at a certain placeH4725H6423H492. 3Now thenH6258, whatH4100 do you haveH3426 onH8478 handH3027? GiveH5414H3027 me fiveH2568 loaves of breadH3899, orH176 whatever can be foundH4672.”

4“There is noH369 commonH2455 breadH3899 onH8478 handH3027,” the priestH3548 repliedH6030, “butH518 there is someH3426 consecratedH6944 breadH3899—provided thatH518 the young menH5288 have kept themselvesH8104 from womenH802.”

5DavidH1732 answeredH6030, “WomenH802 have indeedH518 been keptH6113 from us, as is usualH8032 when I set outH3318. And the bodiesH3627 of the young menH5288 areH1961 holyH6944 evenH1931 on commonH2455 missionsH1870. How muchH637 more soH3588H6942H3627 todayH3117!”

6So the priestH3548 gaveH5414 him the consecratedH6944 bread, sinceH3588 there wasH1961 noH3808 breadH3899 thereH8033 butH518 the BreadH3899 of the PresenceH6440, which had been removedH5493 from beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 and replaced withH7760 hotH2527 breadH3899 on the dayH3117 it was taken awayH3947.

7Now oneH376 of Saul’sH7586 servantsH5650 was thereH8033 thatH1931 dayH3117, detainedH6113 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068. And his nameH8034 was DoegH1673 the EdomiteH130, the chiefH47 shepherdH7462 forH834 SaulH7586.

David Flees to Gath

(Psalm 34:1–22; Psalm 56:1–13)

8Then DavidH1732 askedH559 AhimelechH288, “Is thereH3426 notH371 a spearH2595 orH176 swordH2719 onH8478 handH3027 hereH6311? ForH3588 I have broughtH3947 neitherH3808 my swordH2719 norH1571 my weaponsH3627 with meH3027, becauseH3588 the king’sH4428 missionH1697 wasH1961 urgentH5169.”

9The priestH3548 repliedH559, “The swordH2719 of GoliathH1555 the PhilistineH6430, whomH834 you killedH5221 in the ValleyH6010 of ElahH425, is hereH2009; itH1931 is wrappedH3874 in a clothH8071 behindH310 the ephodH646. IfH518 you wantH853, you may take itH3947. ForH3588 there is noH369 otherH312 but this oneH2108 hereH2088.”

And DavidH1732 saidH559, “There is noneH369 like itH3644; give itH5414 to me.”

10ThatH1931 dayH3117 DavidH1732 fledH6965H1272 fromH6440 SaulH7586 and wentH935 toH413 AchishH397 king ofH4428 GathH1661. 11But the servantsH5650 of AchishH397 saidH559 to himH413, “Is thisH2088 notH3808 DavidH1732, the kingH4428 of the landH776? Did they notH3808 singH6030 about himH2088 in their dancesH4246, sayingH559:

12Now DavidH1732 tookH7760 theseH428 wordsH1697 to heartH3824 and was very muchH3966 afraidH3372 ofH6440 AchishH397 the kingH4428 of GathH1661. 13So he changedH8138 his behaviorH2940 before themH5869 and feigned madnessH1984 in their handsH3027; he scratchedH8427 onH5921 the doorsH1817 of the gateH8179 and let his salivaH7388 runH3381 downH413 his beardH2206.

14Then AchishH397 saidH559 toH413 his servantsH5650, “LookH2009, you can seeH7200 that the manH376 is insaneH7696! WhyH4100 have you broughtH935 himH853 to meH413? 15Am IH589 in need ofH2638 madmenH7696, thatH3588 you have broughtH935 this manH2088 to raveH7696 in my presenceH5921? Must thisH2088 man comeH935 intoH413 my houseH1004?”