大衛悲傷的與約拿單告別後，就逃到距耶路撒冷不遠處的挪伯，上帝的聖所那裡。為了不讓亞比米勒起疑，大衛撒了一個謊，掩飾他到挪伯的理由（21：2）。後來當迦特的非利士人認出他來，他又裝瘋賣傻，保護自己不被迦特王擒拿。聖經的作者對待大衛就像對待其他的聖經偉人一樣，一點也不試圖隱藏他們的過犯，這正是聖經的特色。

        在亞比米勒那裡只有聖所供奉的陳設餅可給大衛和他的隨從作食物。但每逢安息日更換的陳設餅只有在聖所裡供職的祭司能吃（利24：5~9）。大衛卻申辯說，他和他的隨從在禮上都潔淨，所以應該准許他們吃。耶穌也曾提及這個事件，教導說，道德的義務更勝於律法的拘泥，所以，賙濟貧窮比遵守儀法更重要（可2：25~26）。

        大衛在迦特無法得到庇護，他必須用計使非利士人以為他瘋了，好從他們那裡逃脫。大衛就故意讓唾沫流在鬍子上；在那個時代，男人都以自己的鬍子為榮，一個心智正常的人絕不會用這種方式讓自己丟臉。大衛後來逃到離伯利恆不遠的亞杜蘭洞。許多不滿掃羅統治的人支持大衛，跟隨他流亡。在上帝的幫助下，這些未經訓練的人馬逐漸組成一支四百人的小型軍隊（22：2）。

        大衛的家人或許因為害怕掃羅報復，所以也都逃到大衛那裡。在當時，因一個人的錯誤而誅連九族的情況很普遍（如亞希米勒的遭遇，22：18）。為了使家人得到更安全的保護，大衛將他年邁的父母帶到摩押王那裡（22：3~4），因為大衛家族與摩押有親戚關係（耶西的祖母路得是摩押人，得4：13~22）。

        掃羅召開宮廷會議，想知道大衛的線索。他連自己的臣僕也猜疑，並且因為上帝保護大衛，使他無法傷害到大衛而感到挫折不已。似乎人人都喜歡大衛，因而都不願幫助掃羅（18：5；22：8）。最後，是掃羅的僕人，以東人多益提供了情報。當大衛在挪伯求食時，多益也在那裡，他可能離棄了異教，改信獨一真神，到聖所獻祭行潔淨的禮，或者為了還願。不過他的信仰並沒有改變他的心。唯有他遵從掃羅殘暴的命令，將祭司亞希米勒和他全村的人屠殺精光，只因為他們援助大衛。但挪伯城裡的人其實是無辜的，因為根本不知道大衛是逃犯。

        亞希米勒在臨死前還勇敢的推崇大衛純潔的性格和他對掃羅的忠心（22：14）。若不是為情勢所逼，大衛絕不會組織軍隊，他只是為了要防備掃羅的攻擊。在所有這些環境裡，上帝都與大衛同在。大衛透過先知迦得尋求上帝的引導，後來迦得也在大衛的生命中扮演重要的角色。

        主啊，您應許我們若將我們的道路交在您手中，您就必引導我們的腳步。即使我們所經的路徑歧嶇，就像大衛的情況一樣，我們仍將繼續委身於您，並相信您的引導。謝謝您的保證！奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        After David's sad farewell with Jonathan, he fled to the house of the Lord, which at that time had moved to Nob, not far from Jerusalem. In order to avoid the suspicion of Ahimelech, David lied to conceal the reason of his being there (21:2). Later, when the Philistines of Gath recognized him, he once again behaved deceitfully, feigning insanity in order to protect himself from the king. As with other heroes in the Bible, there is no attempt by the writers of scripture to hide their wrongdoings, and such is a mark of the inspired Word.

        The only bread available for David and his men was the holy bread from the table of showbread in the Holy Place, which was renewed every Sabbath. This consecrated bread was only to be eaten by the priests serving in the Holy Place (Leviticus 24:5-9). David reasoned with Ahimelech that, since he and the other men were ceremonially clean, they should be allowed to eat it. Jesus referred to this incident when teaching that the legalistic letter of the law must give way to moral obligations; therefore, feeding the hungry was more important than observing the ceremonial law (Mark 2:25-26).

        David was looking for a place of refuge, but he did not find it in Gath. He had to escape from the Philistines there by tricking them into thinking he was insane. To do this, he allowed saliva to run down his beard; in those days, men took great pride in their beards, and no man in his right mind would deface it in such a way. David then fled to a place of safety, the cave of Adullam,which was probably not far from Bethlehem. Many men supported and joined David — those who were discontent with Saul's rule. With the help of God, these untrained men were organized into a small army of four hundred (22:2).

        David's family also joined him, probably out of fear from Saul, for at that time it was not uncommon for the whole family to be slain because of one member's mistake (as we see with the household of Ahimelech; 22:18). For added protection, David took his elderly father, Jesse, and his mother to the king of Moab for refuge (22:3-4). The family of David was related to the Moabites through Jesse's grandmother, Ruth (Ruth 4:13-22).

        In a council meeting, Saul tried to get information on the whereabouts of David. Saul was paranoid of even his own men and frustrated that he was unable to harm David, due to God's providential protection. It seems that, because everyone liked David, they were hesitant to help Saul (18:5; 22:8). The information, however, was offered by Doeg, the Edomite servant of Saul, who had been in Nob when David went there for provisions (21:7). Doeg was probably a proselyte who may have gone there to bring offerings for reasons of purification or in fulfillment of a vow, yet his religion did not reach his heart. He was the only one cruel enough to obey Saul's insane order to slaughter the priests and massacre their entire village, merely because they had given aid to David. And those people were innocent, because they were unaware that he was a fugitive.

        Before Ahimelech died, he courageously attested to David's purity of character and his faithfulness to the house of Saul (22:14). Had it not been necessary, David would never have organized an army, but he did so only as a defence against Saul's attacks. Through all these circumstances, God was with David. He sought the Lord's guidance through the prophet Gad, who came to play an important role in David's life.

        Lord, You promised that if we would commit our ways to You, You would direct our paths. Even though our way leads through very difficult places, as was the case in David's life, we're going to keep committed to You and confident in Your direction. Thank You for this assurance!