David Flees To The Philistines

Saul’s selfish attitude and determination to kill David was embarrassing enough to Jonathan, but when it went so far as trying to kill Jonathan for just asking why he was mad, it made him feel like his father was insane, and for the first time, he understood David’s efforts to avoid Saul.  As early as he could the next morning he went to warn David of Saul’s intentions, in I Samuel 20:35-40.  “And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.  And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.  And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?  And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.  But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.  And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.”

 

David was Jonathan’s best friend, but after what happened the day before, Jonathan knew3 Saul would kill him if he caught them together.  He had warned David with his tricks with the arrows, but when he sent his helper home, he wanted to spend a few minutes with David personally, making it clear he did not hate David like his father did, in I Samuel 20:41-42.  “And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.  And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.”

 

Although Saul had tried to kill him while he was staying with Samuel at Naioth, David was sure the Priests would not betray him, and he felt public opinion and God’s law would make even Saul hesitate, so he went to Nob, to the High Priest for help.  Knowing Saul’s reputation, even Ahimelech was hesitant to help, but David assured him he was on a secret emergency mission for Saul.  Taking his word for it, Ahimelech provided food, in I Samuel21:1-6.  “Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?  And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.  Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

 

And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.  And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.  So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.”

 

As so often happens when we try to do something secretly, the priest’s efforts to help David were observed, according to I Samuel 21:7.  “Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.”

 

David also requested any weapons the priests had, and was given the sword he had taken from Goliath, in I Samuel 21:8-10.  “And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. 1sa 21:9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.  And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.”

 

Fearing Saul would send people to detain him, David took the food and the sword and fled to the Philistine city of Gath for safety.  Unfortunately, he was recognized, and in an effort to save his life, he pretended to be insane, knowing that they would hesitate to kill an insane person, as we see in I Samuel 21:11-15.  “And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

 

And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.  And he changed his behaviour 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.  Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?  Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?”

 

The Philistines had enough mentally ill people and Achish didn’t want to be stuck supporting any more so David was left alone.  He went back into Israel, hidingin a cave.  Learning where he was, his brothers and others who had suffered from Saul’s sefishness joined him there, according to I Samuel 22:1-2.  “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.  And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.”