1 Samuel 21 - David's Marriage to Michal | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
The Bible by David Alley · David Alley
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Show Notes
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 21, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 21 David goes to Nob to get help from the priests. The tabernacle was in Nob, but not the ark of the covenant which was in Kiriath Jearim for a long period of time as recorded in 1 Samuel 7. When Shiloh was destroyed at the first battle of Ebenezer, while the town was destroyed it seems the actual tabernacle and its other furnishings were saved.
This may have been because they had warning about the coming Philistines and the priests there acted quickly. In any case, we have a period of time where there is no ark in the tabernacle. It was at least twenty years in Kiriath Jearim, plus at most thirty-three years in Jerusalem with David, and then almost eleven years with Solomon before the temple was finished. So it seems about sixty-four years. Even after the ark was returned to Jerusalem by David he set it up in his own special tent, we call the tabernacle of David.
The priests are worried about David’s mission. David then lies about his purpose, but it is for the safety of the priest. If the priest doesn't know the truth, he won’t be guilty of working against Saul right? The priest gives David 5 loaves of bread - the number of grace. He also gives him the sword of Goliath. In the NT Jesus commented on this event in Matt 12:3-4 using it as evidence that it was ok to pick grain on the Sabbath. Sometimes the need outweighs the strict rules.
The priests had the freedom to bend the rules in the sake of real need. In the Mark 2 version of this story it says that it was in the time of Abiathar the High Priest not mentioning Abimelech the priest, but these were father and son. Both were working in the tabernacle. There is no contradiction, Abimelech gave the bread to David at the time that Abiathar was the high priest. After taking Goliath’s sword, David goes down to the land of the Philistines.
How does David who killed Goliath of Gath, go to Gath and survive? What is interesting is that he no sooner takes the sword of Goliath, that he goes to Gath where the sword comes from. To seek asylum in Philistine territory is most unexpected. Did he take Goliath’s sword back to its home town as a peace gift seeking asylum?