1 Samuel 20-22 David Flees

Thoughts

Samuel 20

David flees from Naioth to Ramah and asks Jonathan why Saul is trying to kill him.

Jonathan doubts his father would hide this from him, but David insists. They agree to test Saul’s intentions during the New Moon festival, and they meet in the field to speak privately.

Jonathan swears an oath to protect David and they make a covenant before the Lord for themselves and their descendants

“And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.” Nefesh” (נֶפֶשׁ) means soul, life, or self.

Jonathan sets up the arrow signal plan to secretly inform David whether it is safe or if he must flee.

At the New Moon feast, Saul notices David’s absence.  On the second day, Jonathan explains that David went to Bethlehem, and Saul erupts in anger, insults Jonathan, and hurls a spear at him. 

The next morning, Jonathan goes to the field and uses the arrow signal to warn David of the danger. 

Samuel 21

David goes to Nob and meets Ahimelech (son of Phinehas,son of Eli) the priest, who is afraid at his unexpected visit. David claims he is on a secret mission from the king.

He asks for food; Ahimelech gives him the consecrated bread since no ordinary bread is available.

• This is mentioned in Matthew 12:1-8 when disciples ate on Sabbath

David asks for a weapon and Ahimelech gives him Goliath’s sword, which had been stored there.

Doeg, Saul’s servant, is present and witnesses this.

David then flees to Gath, to King Achish of the Philistines.The servants of Achish recognize him as the warrior praised in songs for killing tens of thousands.

• Psalm 56 mentions he was captured

David fears for his life and pretends to be insane, scratching doors and drooling on his beard.Achish dismisses him, saying he has enough madmen already.

Samuel 22

David leaves Gath and hides in the cave of Adullam.

• Adullam (עֲדֻלָּם) comes from the root ʿdl (עָדַל), which means “to be low, to hang down, or retreat.”
• Psalm 57 and possibly Psalm 142 describe this event

His family and about 400 men in distress gather to him, and he becomes their leader.

David takes his parents to Moab for protection, asking the king of Moab to care for them. The prophet Gad tells David not to stay but to go into Judah, so he goes to the forest of Hereth.

• Gad is first introduced here, but later he’s called “David’s seer” (2 Sam 24:11; 1 Chr 21:9).

Saul hears that David has been discovered. He sits under a tamarisk tree (pic below because I was curious)with his spear, surrounded by servants.

Doeg reports that he saw David at Nob with Ahimelech the priest, who gave him bread and Goliath’s sword

Ahimelech defends himself, saying David is faithful, Saul’s son-in-law, and a trusted servant. He insists he did nothing wrong.

Saul refuses to listen and orders the priests’ execution but his guards refuse to kill the priests.

Doeg  carries out the massacre, killing 85 priests. He also strikes Nob, the city of priests, killing men, women, children, infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

One son of Ahimelech, Abiathar, escapes and flees to David. Abiathar tells David what Saul and Doeg have done. David blames himself for the deaths as he knew Doeg was there.

Questions

What was the point of the arrow signal if they just talked to each other right after?

Why was Doeg detained?

Why was an Edomite head herdsman?

Why did David go to Gath where Goliath was from while holding Goliath’s sword?

Was David’s journey God’s plan or did he act on his own terms?

Why didn’t David wait for Doeg to leave when he was with Ahimelech if he knew what he would do?

Application

David’s story is full of twists and turns from the moment we meet him until his death. He is probably one of the best known characters of the Bible and I believe has the most written about him. We see his love for God, but following God doesn’t always lead to safety or fairness in the short term. But as David reminds us in many Psalms, God’s protection is sure, even in danger. 

Bible mapper