This chapter relates that David went to Nob, and pretending he was on secret business for the king, got shewbread, and the sword of Goliath, from Ahimelech the priest, 1Sa 21:1; and that passing from thence to Gath, where he was known, through fear feigned himself mad, and so escaped from thence, 1Sa 21:10.
Ver. 1. Then came David to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest,.... The high priest, as Abarbinel rightly calls him; he was the brother of Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, who being dead he succeeded him; though some say he was the same; see 1Sa 14:3; who was now at Nob, the tabernacle being there, whither probably it was removed by Saul, and where and at Gibeon, according to the Jews , it continued fifty seven years; as in the times of Joshua it was in Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim, of which tribe he was; and in the times of David it was placed in the tribe of Judah, to which he belonged; so in the times of Saul it was in Nob, a city of his tribe, twelve miles from Gibeah, according to Bunting ; for that it was in the tribe of Benjamin appears by its being mentioned along with Anathoth, Ne 11:32; and according to Jarchi and Kimchi it was near Jerusalem, and so near that it might be seen from thence; some say they are the same ; Jerom speaks of it as near Diospolis or Lydda.
David, before he departed further off, was willing to see the tabernacle once more, and there worship his God, and inquire of him by the high priest, as he did, 1Sa 22:10; to direct him what way he should take, and that he would prosper and succeed him in it, grant him his presence, and keep him in safety:and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David; hearing that he was come or coming, he went out to meet him, but when he saw him alone he trembled; especially if he had heard of his having fallen under the displeasure of Saul, and that he now fled from him, therefore he might fear that he should fall into disgrace and danger should he entertain him:and he said unto him, why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee?
he might well wonder at it, and put such a question, seeing he was so great a man, both in the court and camp, and the king's son in law; he might therefore reasonably suspect something more than ordinary was the case, and which occasioned his fears.
Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 76. H. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Zebachim, c. 14. sect. 7. Travels, &c. p. 136. Comment. in lsa. x. 32. Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 8. 1. Epitaphium Paulae, fol.
59.