The next several years David spends as a fugitive, moving from place to place trying to avoid Saul. Most of the time he stays within the borders of his own tribe of Judah, although on two occasions he lives under Philistine jurisdiction.

David stops first at Nob, where the tabernacle is located, a town just northeast of Jerusalem (21:1–9). When he arrives alone, the high priest Ahimelek is startled and wonders what is wrong. David deceitfully replies that Saul has sent him on a secret mission, and then h…