John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Now therefore what is under thine hand ? etc.] Meaning, what food had he in his house? give [me] five [loaves of] bread in mine hand ; to take with him, for him and his servants in such a place: or what there is present ; or to be found in the tabernacle; if not five loaves, two, or three, or four, or what food soever he had by him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - David, in distress, fled to the tabernacle of God. It is great comfor in a day of trouble, that we have a God to go to, to whom we may ope our cases, and from whom we may ask and expect direction. David tol Ahimelech a gross untruth. What shall we say to this? The Scriptur does not conceal it, and we dare not justify it; it was ill done, an proved of bad consequence; for it occasioned the death of the priest of the Lord. David thought upon it afterward with regret. David ha great faith and courage, yet both failed him; he fell thus foull through fear and cowardice, and owing to the weakness of his faith. Ha he trusted God aright, he would not have used such a sorry, sinfu shift for his own preservation. It is written, not for us to do the like, no, not in the greatest straits, but for our warning. David aske of Ahimelech bread and a sword. Ahimelech supposed they might eat the shew-bread. The Son of David taught from it, that mercy is to be preferred to sacrifice; that ritual observances must give way to mora duties. Doeg set his foot as far within the tabernacle as David did. We little know with what hearts people come to the house of God, nor what use they will make of pretended devotion. If many come in simplicity of heart to serve their God, others come to observe their teachers and to prove accusers. Only God and the event can distinguish between a Davi and a Doeg, when both are in the tabernacle. (1Sa 21:10-15)
Original Hebrew ועתה6258 מה4100 ישׁ3426 תחת8478 ידך3027 חמשׁה2568 לחם3899 תנה5414 בידי3027 או176 הנמצא׃4672
