1 Samuel 21 2

1 Samuel 21:2 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 21:2 nkjv

So David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, 'Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.' And I have directed my young men to such and such a place.

1 Samuel 21:2 niv

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 on.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place.

1 Samuel 21:2 esv

And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.

1 Samuel 21:2 nlt

"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 where to meet me later.

1 Samuel 21 verses

1 Samuel 21 2 Meaning

David, in his desperate flight from King Saul, arrived at Nob and presented a deceptive story to Ahimelech the priest. He claimed to be on a secret mission for Saul, explaining his urgent need for food and a weapon. This lie was designed to conceal his true identity as a fugitive and secure immediate provisions without suspicion. He further asserted that his accompanying young men were discreetly awaiting him at a specific rendezvous point, thereby accounting for his solitary appearance while hinting at a larger, covert operation.

1 Samuel 21 2 Context

First Samuel chapter 21 finds David fleeing for his life from a paranoid King Saul, who is now actively seeking to kill him (1 Sam 19-20). David has just escaped Saul's presence, parting ways with Jonathan (1 Sam 20), and is now a lone fugitive, heading towards Nob, the city of priests. This encounter with Ahimelech the priest is born out of David's desperate need for food, supplies, and refuge. The overarching historical context is the transfer of God's anointing from Saul to David and Saul's deteriorating spiritual and mental state. David's actions in this verse, while appearing cunning and self-preserving, initiate a chain of events with dire consequences, particularly the massacre of the priests at Nob by Saul, spurred by Doeg the Edomite's report (1 Sam 22).

1 Samuel 21 2 Word analysis

• And David said: Hebrew "Vayyōmer Dāwîḏ" (וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד). Signifies the immediate initiation of speech.
• to Ahimelech the priest: Ahimelech (אֲחִימֶלֶךְ, 'Ahîmelek) means "my brother is king" or "my king is brother." He was the high priest at Nob, a descendant of Ithamar through Eli. The designation "the priest" (הַכֹּהֵן, hak-kōhēn) emphasizes his official capacity and responsibility over sacred things like the bread of the Presence and Goliath's sword kept at the sanctuary.
• The king has commanded me a matter: David invents a secret royal assignment from King Saul. This is a deliberate fabrication, a lie told out of fear and necessity for survival. "King" (מֶלֶךְ, meleḵ) refers to Saul. "Commanded me" (צִוָּה אֹתִי, ṣiwwâ 'ōṯî) implies a direct and urgent directive. "A matter" (דָבָר, dāvār) implies an issue or task.
• and has said to me, "Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and about which I have commanded you.": This is the core of David's fabricated narrative for secrecy.
  • Let no one know anything: אַל יֵדַע אִישׁ מְאוּמָה (ʾal yēḏaʿ ʾîš mĕʾûmâ) is an emphatic command against disclosure, portraying the mission's supposed confidentiality.
  • about which I send you: A claim of direct royal dispatch.
  • and about which I have commanded you: Reiterates the fabricated authoritative nature of the mission.
• I have made an appointment: וָאוֹעֵד אֶת־הַנְּעָרִים (vāʾôʿēḏ 'eṯ-han-nĕʿārîm). This is a vital part of David's deceit. "Made an appointment" implies a pre-arranged rendezvous, further legitimizing his solitary appearance and urgency for provisions for himself and non-existent accompanying "young men." It accounts for his lack of entourage and explains why he alone is seeking provisions, suggesting his men are already covertly stationed.
• with the young men for a certain place: "Young men" (הַנְּעָרִים, han-nĕʿārîm) refers to attendants or soldiers. This detail adds a layer of credibility to David's story, as a secret mission would indeed involve a small contingent of trustworthy men hidden from public view. "A certain place" or "such and such a place" implies a precise, undisclosed location, adding to the mystique and urgency.

1 Samuel 21 2 Bonus section

David's actions here reflect a momentary lapse in trusting God's direct provision, leading him to rely on his own cunning. While understandable given the perilous circumstances, this is a deviation from the perfect truthfulness characteristic of God, Whom David faithfully serves otherwise. This passage underscores that even faithful servants of God can falter under pressure, revealing human weakness. The phrase "the king has commanded me a matter" demonstrates David's knowledge of the political landscape and how to manipulate it to his advantage. It highlights the stark contrast between God's clear instructions and the covert, deceptive nature of Saul's paranoia-driven court. Furthermore, this incident at Nob marks a turning point, dragging innocent parties (Ahimelech and the priests) into Saul's destructive conflict with David, showing the wide ripple effect of human sin and the consequences that extend beyond the immediate actors.

1 Samuel 21 2 Commentary

David's opening statement to Ahimelech is a calculated deception, born from extreme pressure and the instinct for self-preservation. Facing Saul's relentless pursuit, David prioritizes immediate survival. His lie is elaborate, painting a picture of a critical, covert royal mission to justify his sudden arrival, his isolation, and his urgent need for food and a weapon without raising suspicion. He masterfully invents an oath of secrecy supposedly imposed by the king himself, lending gravity to his words and making Ahimelech a unwitting participant in a fabricated secret. The mention of "young men" waiting at an undisclosed location further cements the urgency and covert nature of his fabricated task, explaining why he needs provisions for more than just himself. While the Bible doesn't explicitly condemn David's lie here, its devastating consequences—the subsequent massacre of the priests of Nob (1 Sam 22)—serve as a somber reminder that even actions taken out of desperation can lead to tragic and far-reaching outcomes. This event, later referenced by Jesus (Matt 12:3-4), highlights the principle of mercy and human need sometimes superseding strict ritual law, but it simultaneously underscores the sinful nature of falsehood, which David employed despite his divine anointing.