Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

David came to Nob, a city where Ahimelech served as priest. Ahimelech trembled with fear when he saw David alone and asked him, "Why are you by yourself, without anyone else?"

David replied to the priest, "The king has entrusted me with a secret matter that I've been instructed not to share with anyone or reveal what's required of me. My servants are waiting in a different location."

David then asked Ahimelech, "Is there something available for me under your hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you have on hand."

The priest answered David, saying, "I don't have any ordinary bread with me, but I do have holy bread. However, it's set apart because the young men who are to eat it have kept themselves from women."

David explained, "It's true that we've been separated from women for the past three days since I left. The young men's equipment is consecrated, so even though today is like any other day, the bread remains holy."

The priest gave David the holy bread because there was no other bread available except for the showbread, which had been removed from in front of the Lord to make way for fresh bread each day.

That same day, a servant of Saul's was confined before the Lord, and his name was Doeg, an Edomite who served as chief over Saul's herds.

David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have something under your hand – a spear or sword? I didn't bring my own because the king's business required haste."

The priest replied, "Look, Goliath's sword, which you killed in the valley of Elah, is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there's nothing else available." David said, "There's no other like that; give it to me."

David got up and fled that day due to fear of Saul, heading towards Achish, king of Gath.

Achish's servants asked him, "Isn't this the David who ruled over Israel? Haven't they sung about him in their songs, saying, 'Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands'?"

David stored these words in his heart and became deeply afraid of Achish, the king of Gath.

He pretended to be insane in front of them by scratching on the gate doors and letting saliva fall down onto his beard.

Achish then said to his servants, "Look at him; he's clearly insane! Why have you brought this man to me? Do I need people like that who make fools of themselves in my presence?"