David at Nomba and Before Anchus

1 Samuel 21

Fleeing from Saul, David comes to Abimelech the priest at Nomba, receives the shewbread and the sword of Goliath, and then goes to Geth, where he escapes danger from king Anchus by feigning madness.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

Thomson—

BrentonAnd David arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

Greekκαὶ ἀνέστη Δαυὶδ καὶ ἀπῆλθε, καὶ Ἰωνάθαν εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν.

KJVAnd Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

JPSAnd he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.

ThomsonNOW when David came to Nomba, to Abimelech the priest, Abimelech was astonished at meeting him, and said to him, Why art thou alone, and nobody with thee?

BrentonAnd David comes to Nomba to Abimelech the priest: and Abimelech was amazed at meeting him, and said to him, Why art thou alone, and nobody with thee?

GreekΚαὶ ἔρχεται Δαυὶδ εἰς Νομβᾶ πρὸς Ἀβιμέλεχ τὸν ἱερέα· καὶ ἐξέστη Ἀβιμέλεχ τῇ ἀπαντήσει αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, τί ὅτι σὺ μόνος, καὶ οὐθεὶς μετὰ σοῦ;

KJVThen came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

JPSThen came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said unto him: ‘Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?’

ThomsonThereupon David said to the priest, The king hath given me to-day a business in charge, and said to me, Let none know the business on which I send thee, and with which I have charged thee; therefore I appointed my servants to meet me at the place called Faith of God Phellani Maemoni.

BrentonAnd David said to the priest, The king gave me a command to-day, and said to me, Let no one know the matter on which I send thee, and concerning which I have charged thee: and I have charged my servants to be in the place that is called, The faithfulness of God, phellani maemoni.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ τῷ ἱερεῖ, ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐντέταλταί μοι ῥῆμα σήμερον, καὶ εἶπέ μοι, μηδεὶς γνώτω τὸ ῥῆμα περὶ οὗ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω σε, καὶ ὑπὲρ οὗ ἐγὼ ἐντέταλμαί σοι· καὶ τοῖς παιδαρίοις διαμεμαρτύρημαι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τῷ λεγομένῳ, Θεοῦ πίστις φελλανὶ μαεμωνί.

KJVAnd David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

JPSAnd David said unto Ahimelech the priest: ‘The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me: Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee; and the young men have I appointed to such and such a place.

ThomsonNow therefore hast thou five loaves at hand? Give me what thou hast ready.

BrentonAnd now if there are under thy hand five loaves, give into my hand what is ready.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν εἰ εἰσὶν ὑπὸ τὴν χεῖρά σου πέντε ἄρτοι, δὸς εἰς χεῖρά μου τὸ εὑρεθέν.

KJVNow therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

JPSNow therefore what is under thy hand? five loaves of bread? give them in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.’

ThomsonAnd the priest in reply said to David, I have no common bread at hand. Because there is none but the holy bread; if thy servants have but kept themselves from women they may eat it.

BrentonAnd the priest answered David, and said, There are no common loaves under my hand, for I have none but holy loaves: if the young men have been kept at least from women, then they shall eat them.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἱερεὺς τῷ Δαυὶδ, καὶ εἶπεν, οὔκ εἰσιν ἄρτοι βέβηλοι ὑπὸ τὴν χεῖρά μου, ὅτι ἀλλʼ ἢ ἄρτοι ἅγιοί εἰσιν· εἰ πεφυλαγμένα τὰ παιδάριά ἐστι πλὴν ἀπὸ γυναικὸς, καὶ φάγεται.

KJVAnd the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

JPSAnd the priest answered David, and said: ‘There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.’

ThomsonAnd David in answer to the priest, said to him, Of a truth we have kept ourselves from women these three days. When I set out on the journey, all the servants were purified (though the journey was on secular affairs) because they were to be holy this day, on account of my provision for it.

BrentonAnd David answered the priest, and said to him, Yea, we have been kept from women for three days: when I came forth for the journey all the young men were purified; but this expedition is unclean, wherefore it shall be sanctified this day because of my weapons.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυὶδ τῷ ἱερεῖ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ γυναικὸς ἀπεσχήμεθα ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν· ἐν τῷ ἐξελθεῖν με εἰς ὁδὸν γέγονε πάντα τὰ παιδία ἡγνισμένα, καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ ὁδὸς βέβηλος, διότι ἁγιασθήσεται σήμερον διὰ τὰ σκεύη μου.

KJVAnd David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

JPSAnd David answered the priest, and said unto him: ‘Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then to-day, when there shall be holy bread in their vessels?’

ThomsonSo Abimelech the priest gave him the presence loaves, because he had no other, but only those loaves which were taken from the presence of the Lord, that fresh bread might be put in their place on the day he took them.

BrentonSo Abimelech the priest gave him the shewbread; for there were no loaves there, but only the presence loaves which had been removed from the presence of the Lord, in order that hot bread should be set on, on the day on which he took them.

GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ Ἀβιμέλεχ ὁ ἱερεὺς τοὺς ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως, ὅτι ἐκεῖ οὐκ ἦν ἄρτοι, ἀλλʼ ἢ ἄρτοι τοῦ προσώπου οἱ ἀφῃρημένοι ἐκ προσώπου Κυρίου, τοῦ παρατεθῆναι ἄρτον θερμὸν ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ ἔλαβεν αὐτούς.

KJVSo the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

JPSSo the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.—

ThomsonNow there was there that day, near the Neessaran before the Lord, one of Saul’s servants. His name was Doek, the Syrian, who tended Saul’s asses.

BrentonAnd there was there on that day one of Saul's servants detained before the Lord, and his name was Doec the Syrian, tending the mules of Saul.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκεῖ ἦν ἓν τῶν παιδαρίων τοῦ Σαοὺλ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ συνεχόμενος Νεεσσαρὰν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Δωὴκ Σύρος, νέμων τὰς ἡμιόνους Σαούλ.

KJVNow a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

JPSNow a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.—

ThomsonThen David said to Abimelech, See if there be at hand a spear or a sword, for I did not bring my sword, nor my arms with me, because the king’s business required haste.

BrentonAnd David said to Abimelech, See if there is here under thy hand spear or sword, for I have not brought in my hand my sword or my weapons, for the word of the king was urgent.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πρὸς Ἀβιμέλεχ, ἴδε εἰ ἔστιν ἐνταῦθα ὑπὸ τὴν χεῖρά σου δόρυ ἢ ῥομφαία, ὅτι τὴν ῥομφαίαν μου καὶ τὰ σκεύη οὐκ εἴληφα ἐν τῇ χειρί μου, ὅτι ἦν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦ βασιλέως κατὰ σπουδήν.

KJVAnd David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.

JPSAnd David said unto Ahimelech: ‘And is there peradventure here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.’

ThomsonAnd the priest said, Behold here is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine, whom thou didst slay in the valley of Ela. It is wrapped up in a garment. If thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other besides that here. And David said, There is none like it, give it me.

BrentonAnd the priest said, Behold the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou smotest in the valley of Ela; and it is wrapt in a cloth: if thou wilt take it, take it for thyself, for there is no other except it here. And David said, Behold, there is none like it; give it me.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἱερεὺς, ἰδοὺ ἡ ῥομφαία Γολιὰθ τὸυ ἀλλοφύλου, ὃν ἐπάταξας ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι Ἠλᾶ· καὶ αὕτη ἐνειλημένη ἦν ἐν ἱματίῳ· εἰ ταύτην λήψῃ, σεαυτῷ λάβε, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἑτέρα πάρεξ ταύτης ἐνταῦθα· καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ, ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔστιν ὥσπερ αὐτή· δός μοι αὐτήν.

KJVAnd the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

JPSAnd the priest said: ‘The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the vale of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other save that here.’ And David said: ‘There is none like that; give it me.’

ThomsonAnd when he had given it to him, David arose, and fled that day from the presence of Saul. And when David came to Angchus, king of Geth,

BrentonAnd he gave it him; and David arose, and fled in that day from the presence of Saul: and David came to Anchus king of Geth.

GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυὶδ, καὶ ἔφυγεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐκ προσώπου Σαούλ· καὶ ἦλθε Δαυὶδ πρὸς Ἀγχοῦς βασιλέα Γέθ.

KJVAnd David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

JPSAnd David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

Thomsonthe servants of Angchus said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? Was it not of him the choirs of women sung their responsive song saying, Saul hath slain his thousands—and David his ten thousands.

BrentonAnd the servants of Anchus said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did not the dancing women begin the song to him, saying, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπον οἱ παῖδες Ἀγχοῦς πρὸς αὐτὸν, οὐχὶ οὗτος Δαυὶδ ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς γῆς; οὐχὶ τούτῳ ἐξῆρχον αἱ χορεύουσαι, λέγουσαι, ἐπάταξε Σαοὺλ ἐν χιλιάσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ Δαυὶδ ἐν μυριάσιν αὐτοῦ;

KJVAnd the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

JPSAnd the servants of Achish said unto him: ‘Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying: Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?’

ThomsonAnd David treasured up these words in his mind, and was greatly afraid of Angchus king of Geth,

BrentonAnd David laid up the words in his heart, and was greatly afraid of Anchus king of Geth.

GreekΚαὶ ἔθετο Δαυὶδ τὰ ῥήματα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθη σφόδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου Ἀγχοῦς βασιλέως Γέθ.

KJVAnd David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

JPSAnd David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

Thomsontherefore he changed his countenance before him, and personated a character on that day, and beat as on a tympanum on the city gates, and scrabbled with his hands, and fell against the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down on his beard.

BrentonAnd he changed his appearance before him, and feigned himself a false character in that day; and drummed upon the doors of the city, and used extravagant gestures with his hands, and fell against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard.

GreekΚαὶ ἠλλοίωσε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ προσεποιήσατο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἐτυμπάνιζεν ἐπὶ ταῖς θύραις τῆς πόλεως, καὶ παρεφέρετο ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔπιπτεν ἐπὶ τὰς θύρας τῆς πύλης, καὶ τὰ σίελα αὐτοῦ κατέῤῥει ἐπὶ τὸν πώγωνα αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

JPSAnd he changed his demeanour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

ThomsonThereupon Angchus said to his servants, Behold, you see the man is epileptic! Why have you brought him to me?

BrentonAnd Anchus said to his servants, Lo! ye see the man is mad: why have ye brought him in to me?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἀγχοῦς πρὸς τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ, ἰδοὺ ἴδετε ἄνδρα ἐπίληπτον, ἱνατί εἰσηγάγετε αὐτὸν πρὸς μέ;

KJVThen said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

JPSThen said Achish unto his servants: ‘Lo, when ye see a man that is mad, wherefore do ye bring him to me?

Thomson—

BrentonAm I in want of madmen, that ye have brought him in to me to play the madman? he shall not come into the house.

GreekΜὴ ἐλαττοῦμαι ἐπιλήπτων ἐγὼ, ὅτι εἰσαγηόχατε αὐτὸν ἐπιληπτεύεσθαι πρὸς μέ; οὗτος οὐκ εἰσελεύσεται εἰς οἰκίαν.

KJVHave I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

JPSDo I lack madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?’