David arrives at Nob alone, without weapons or provisions, and deceives the priest Ahimelech (vv. 1–2).
Ahimelech is alarmed that David is alone, so David constructs a lie.
This deception will have catastrophic consequences, with Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, witnessing the entire exchange (v. 7).
Ahimelech gives David the consecrated showbread (vv. 3–6).
Jesus cites this very episode in defending his disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:3–4), that the law serves life, not the other way around.
David takes Goliath's sword from behind the ephod (vv. 8–9).
The man who won the greatest victory for Israel is now a fugitive whose only weapon is the spoil of that victory.
David flees to Achish, king of Gath, and feigns madness to survive (vv. 10–15).
Gath is Goliath's city. David flees to the Philistines.
The servants of Achish recognize David immediately and his fame as Israel's champion.
The LORD's anointed, Israel's greatest warrior, is preserved at the lowest point of his flight through humiliation before a pagan king.
David's descent in this chapter is grand.
He has no bread, no sword, no army, no court, and no home.
He is sustained only by what he receives from the house of God and by his own desperate lies.
His lies will come back to bite him, and show still the cracks in his kingship that will only be fulfilled in Christ.