David went to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. When the priest asked what he was doing there, David lied and said that the king had charged him with a mission he could not speak of. Maybe he lied to try to protect him in case Saul came looking for him there.
David asked the priest what he had on hand. He asked for five loaves of bread or whatever he had. The priest answered saying that he did not have any ordinary bread there, only consecrated bread provided the men have kept themselves from women.
The priest did end up giving David the bread. David then asked him if there were any weapons there. The priest gave him the sword that was Goliath’s the Philistine David had killed previously.
Then David fled to Gath. Everyone there knew of him and the songs they would sing about him. Because of this, David feared the king of Gath and pretended to be insane in their presence. Because of this act, David was safe while he was there.
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his family heard of this, they went down to see him. All those who were in need went to him, and he became their leader. There were about four hundred men there with him.
Now Saul heard that David had been discovered and what the priest had done for him. Saul sent for the priest and asked him why he had conspired against him.
Saul ordered his men to kill the priests, but they refused. So he ordered another to kill them and he did. That day there were eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod killed. Saul also ordered him to kill the town of Nob, the town of the priests. All the men, women, children, and animals were killed.
One man was able to escape and went to David. He told him everything that had happened and what Saul had done.
David was also told that the Philistines were fighting against the city of Keilah. He asked God what he should do, and the Lord directed him to go and fight the Philistines and save the city.
Saul heard that David was in Keilah and sought out to attack him. David asked the Lord if he would be safe in the city, or if the citizens would turn him over to Saul, and he said that they would. So David and his now six hundred men left the city and moved from place to place.
Saul continued to search for David, but was not able to find him. Jonathan, Saul’s son, came out to meet David. He told David not to be afraid for he would be king over Israel, and Saul would not lay a hand on him. The two made a covenant before the Lord and Jonathan went home.
Saul heard where David was and took three thousand men out to pursue him. Saul came upon a cave and went in to relieve himself. He did not know that David and his men were hiding in the back of the cave.
David snuck up behind him and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe, but did not let his men attack him. Saul left the cave and went on his way.
David went out of the cave and called out to Saul. He bent down and bowed to him, asking him why he listened to people who said David wanted to harm him. He explained how he could’ve just killed him in the cave, but he chose to spare him. Then he showed him the piece of his robe.
David continued saying that he never meant him any harm, or rebelled against him in anyway. He never wronged him, but yet Saul continued to hunt him so he could kill him. He said that his hand would not touch him, because “From evildoers comes come evil deeds.”
Saul responded by saying that David was more righteous than he was and that he was the one treating him badly. He said that David would surely be king of Israel and asked him to swear that he would not cut off Saul’s descendants or wipe out his family name.
David made the oath to Saul, and Saul returned home.