1 Samuel 21 - 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

21 1 David fleeth to Nob to Ahimelech the Priest. 6 He getteth of him the showbread to satisfy his hunger. 7 Doeg Saul’s servant was present. 10 David fleeth to King Achish, 13 and there feigneth himself mad.

1 Then came David to [a]Nob, to Ahimelech the Priest, and Ahimelech was astonied at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

2 And David said to Ahimelech the Priest, The [b]King hath commanded me a certain thing, and hath said unto me, Let no man know whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such places.

3 Now therefore if thou hast ought under thine hand, give me five cakes of bread, or what cometh to hand.

4 And the Priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but here is (A)hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves, at least from [c]women.

5 David then answered the Priest, and said unto him, Certainly women have been separate from us these two or three days since I came out: and the [d]vessels of the young men were holy, though the way were profane, and how much more then shall every one [e]be sanctified this day in the vessel?

6 So the Priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there, save the showbread that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread there, the day that it was taken away.

7 (And there was the same day one of the servants of Saul [f]abiding before the Lord, named Doeg the Edomite, the [g]chiefest of Saul’s herdmen.)

8 And David said unto Ahimelech, Is there not here under thine hand a spear or a sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor mine harness with me, because the king’s business required haste.

9 And the Priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the (B)valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the [h]Ephod: if thou wilt take that to thee, take it: for there is none other save that here: And David said, There is none to that, give it me.

10 And David arose and fled the same day from the [i]presence of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the (C)King of the land? did they not sing unto him in dances, saying, (D)Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand?

12 And David [j]considered these words, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and [k]scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is beside himself, wherefore have ye brought him to me?

15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? [l]shall he come into mine house?

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 21:1 Where the ark then was to ask counsel of the Lord.
  2. 1 Samuel 21:2 These infirmities that we see in the Saints of God, teach us that none hath his justice in himself, but receiveth it of God’s mercy.
  3. 1 Samuel 21:4 If they have not accompanied with their wives.
  4. 1 Samuel 21:5 That is, their bodies.
  5. 1 Samuel 21:5 Shall be more careful to keep his vessel holy, when he shall have eaten of this holy food?
  6. 1 Samuel 21:7 Tarrying to worship before the Ark.
  7. 1 Samuel 21:7 Or, master of them that kept Saul’s castle.
  8. 1 Samuel 21:9 Behind that place, where the high Priest’s garment lay.
  9. 1 Samuel 21:10 That is, out of Saul’s dominion.
  10. 1 Samuel 21:12 Hebrew, put these words in his heart.
  11. 1 Samuel 21:13 By making marks and toys.
  12. 1 Samuel 21:15 Is he meet to be in a king’s house?

Cross references

  1. 1 Samuel 21:4 : Exod. 25:30; Lev. 24:5; Matt. 12:3,4
  2. 1 Samuel 21:9 : 1 Sam. 17:2
  3. 1 Samuel 21:11 : 1 Sam. 17:9
  4. 1 Samuel 21:11 : 1 Sam. 18:7; 1 Sam. 29:5

You Might Also Like:

1 Samuel 21 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

21 And David cometh in to Nob, unto Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech trembleth at meeting David, and saith to him, `Wherefore [art] thou thyself alone, and no man with thee?' 2 And David saith to Ahimelech the priest, `The king hath commanded me a matter, and he saith unto me, Let no man know any...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

21 Forsooth David came into Nob to Ahimelech, the priest; and Ahimelech wondered, for David had come (and Ahimelech wondered why David had come there); and he said to David, Why art thou alone, and no man is with thee? 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded to me a word, a...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - World English Bible (WEB)

21 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no man with you?” 2 David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commanded me to do something, and has said to me, ‘Let no one know anything about the business ab...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - The Voice (VOICE)

In the law of Moses, people are commanded to love their neighbors as themselves; and Jonathan does just that, loving David as he does himself. David’s love for Jonathan is also clear. When they are parted here, David is filled with sadness. Although both of them weep, David weeps more; and when Saul...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Eating Consecrated Bread21 Then David got up and left, while Jonathan returned to the town. 2 David went to Nob to Ahimelech the kohen. Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, so he said to him, “Why are you alone and no one with you?” 3 David said to Ahimelech the kohen, “The king has commissioned me ...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

David and the Holy Bread21 [a] Then came David to Nob to Ahim′elech the priest; and Ahim′elech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahim′elech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, ‘Let no one know...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David and the Holy Bread21 [a] Then came David to Nob to Ahim′elech the priest; and Ahim′elech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahim′elech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, ‘Let no one know...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David and the Holy Bread21 [a] David came to Nob to the priest Ahimelech. Ahimelech came trembling to meet David, and said to him, ‘Why are you alone, and no one with you?’ 2 David said to the priest Ahimelech, ‘The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, “No one must know anything of th...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David and the Holy Bread21 [a]David came to Nob to the priest Ahimelech. Ahimelech came trembling to meet David and said to him, “Why are you alone and no one with you?”(A)2 David said to the priest Ahimelech, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘No one must know anything of the m...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David Runs from Saul21 [a]David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he saw him. “Why are you alone?” he asked. “Why is no one with you?” 2 “The king has sent me on a private matter,” David said. “He told me not to tell anyone why I am here. I have told my men...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New Life Version (NLV)

David Runs from Saul21 David came to Ahimelech the religious leader at Nob. Ahimelech came shaking in fear to meet David, and said to him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 2 David said to Ahimelech the religious leader, “The king has given me something to do. And he has said to me, ‘Let...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David and the Holy Bread21 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And (A)Ahimelech was (B)afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you 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 a...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

David at Nob21 [a]David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, ‘Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?’ 2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, ‘The king sent me on a mission and said to me, “No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you ...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New International Version (NIV)

David at Nob21 [a]David went to Nob,(A) to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled(B) when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sendin...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David at Nob21 David went to Ahimelek the priest at Nob. Ahimelek trembled with fear when he met him. He asked David, “Why are you alone? Why isn’t anyone with you?” 2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king gave me a special job to do. He said to me, ‘I don’t want anyone to know what I’m send...
Read More

1 Samuel 21 - New English Translation (NET)

21 1 (21:2) David went to Ahimelech the priest in Nob. Ahimelech was shaking with fear when he met[a] David, and said to him, “Why are you by yourself with no one accompanying you?” 2 David replied to Ahimelech the priest, “The king instructed me to do something, but he said to me, ‘Don’t let anyo...
Read More