39 David and the Holy Bread

After receiving Jonathan’s warning that Saul indeed intended to kill him, David fled, realizing that he was in effect now a “long-term exile.”

1 David Travels to Nob

As David was on the run, he was hoping to find somewhere that he would be safe (at least for a while):

1 Samuel 21:1-2

David traveled to Nob, which was a priestly city approximately five miles south of Gibeah.

• David really hadn’t travel far from Saul’s base of operation.
• He traveled to Nob hoping to receive assistance.

In addition to being a priestly city, which should have provided some safety, Nob was also the home of the priest Ahimelech, who was a close associate of David’s friend, the prophet/priest Samuel.

Ahimelech was obviously surprised, when David, who was a well-known Israelite military commander, showed up alone.

We can see from their encounter, that Ahimelech was unaware that David had been forced to flee from Saul’s presence, therefore the priest was obviously concerned for David’s safety. After all, David would have been a marked man especially with enemies such as the Philistines.

David, however responded to the priest’s concern with falsehoods, first stating that he was on a special mission for king Saul, and that he’d sent some of his men to another location, while he came to see Ahimelech regarding obtaining some provisions. The truth of the matter was that David was all alone at this time, and that he hadn’t been sent on a mission by the king, but he was running for his life from Saul.

Here, we see David acting like most fugitives do, resorting to their own wiles to survive.

The difference of course, is that David was in a relationship with, and being greatly used by the Lord.

Ironically David’s lie is something he would later say he greatly regretted, once he saw the ramifications of it:

1 Samuel 22:22

2 David Requests Provisions

1 Samuel 21:3-6

David had been on the run, and was obviously greatly hungered when he approached Ahimelech asking him for food. Note that he wanted enough for several days, therefore he mentioned he needed for “his men” as well.

Ahimelech responded that he didn’t have any “common bread”. That was a description of ordinary bread that could be eaten by anyone at any time.

The only bread that Ahimelech had, was “holy bread”:

1 Samuel 21:4

“Holy bread” was also known as “showbread” which meant “bread of faces” since it was to be eaten before the face (in the presence) of God.

According to the Law, there would be twelve loaves, representing the twelve tribes, which portrayed the Lord’s desire for fellowship with all His people:

Leviticus 24:8-9

The showbread which was placed in the Lord’s presence, was to always be fresh, which meant any bread about to become stale must be replaced. This shows how the Lord desires a fresh and not a stale relationship with His people.

Therefore, Ahimelech advised David, that the only available bread was the old showbread (which is what he and the other priests were to have eaten).

Even then, the bread was to have been eaten before the Lord, and those who would consume it must be certain to be ceremonially clean.

Therefore, Ahimelech suggested to David, that he and his men, may receive and consume the bread, as long as they were ceremonially clean.

David continued lying, by stating that the men were indeed ceremonially clean. Of course, David who alone would be consuming the bread, was ceremonially clean, since he had alone and on the run from Saul.

Therefore, Ahimelech gave David the old showbread, which had been replaced by fresh loaves:

1 Samuel 21:6

3 In Need of a Weapon

During his visit with Ahimelech, soon realized that he would require a weapon to defend himself:

1 Samuel 21:7-9

David observed a man named Doeg, an Edomite with a violent temper, who served Saul, was also in Nob while he was. In verse 7, we’re told he was “detained before the Lord”, which has caused many Bible expositors to believe that he must been in Nob to fulfill a particular ceremonial requirement which was contingent upon his service for the king.

However, David’s observing of Doeg, caused him to realize he most likely would require a weapon for defense at some point.

He asked Ahimelech if he had either a spear or sword that he might give him. The priest answered that the only sword he had, was Goliath’s old sword, which David himself had used to cut off the giant’s head.

David happily told Ahimelech that he’d take the sword, saying “there is none like it.”

Again, it points to how David was now resorting to lies, his abilities, and even the sword of “the uncircumcised Philistine” (David’s words previously).