1 Samuel, Chapter 21:
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Verses from 1 Samuel, Chapter 21 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.
David in Nob
David at Gath
- 1. David went to talk to the priest Ahimelech in Nob. When Ahimelech saw him, he was afraid and asked, “Why are you alone? Didn’t anyone come with you?”
- 2. David replied, “The king gave me a secret mission and told me, 'No one should know about what I am asking you.' And I gave instructions to my soldiers to meet me at a specific place.
- 3. Now, what do you have to offer me? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you have available.”
- 4. The priest replied to David: “I only have consecrated bread; if his soldiers abstained from women, they may eat.”
- 5. David replied, “Indeed, they abstained from women during the mission. They remain pure even in normal situations. How much more so now!”
- 6. Then the priest gave David the consecrated bread, for there was no other bread than the bread of the Presence, which was replaced by fresh bread when taken away.
- 7. On that day one of Saul's servants was present, named Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul's shepherds.
- 8. David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or a sword here? I did not bring my sword or any other weapon, as the mission was urgent.”
- 9. The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath, the Philistine whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is wrapped in cloth behind the priest's vest. If you want, take it; there is no other sword like it.” David said, “There is nothing better; give me that sword.”
- 10. That day David fled from Saul and went to look for Achish, the king of Gath.
- 11. But Achish's counselors said, “Is not this David the king of the land of Israel? Isn’t this the same one they sang about in their dances: ‘Saul killed thousands, David killed tens of thousands’?”
- 12. David took those words seriously and was afraid of Achish, the king of Gath.
- 13. Therefore, before them, he pretended to be mad; he acted like a madman in their presence, scratching the city gates and letting his saliva run down his beard.
- 14. Achish said to his advisers, “Look at this man! He's crazy! Why did you bring him here?
- 15. Have I not enough madmen that you should bring me another to act like a fool before me? What did he come to do in my palace?”
