Chapter 21
David goes to Nob with some men. Nob? Is that another name for the place where the Ark is now? Or another name for Shiloh? And is Ahimelech, the priest David finds there, the high priest, a descendant of Aaron? It calls this bread the bread of the presence that is replaced regularly. This is sort of an important thing, because Jesus reminds the Pharisee's of this incident when they accuse him of gathering corn to eat with his disciples on the Sabbath.
MSB note says that Nob was "The city of the priests" and references 1Sa 22:19. Continuing the MSB note, "The priests dwelt on Mt. Scopus, about one mile NE of Jerusalem. David went there for necessary supplies and for counsel. (Remember, in Chapter 20 he had just learned that Saul truly wants him dead, and he had departed from Jonathan). Ahimelech. A great grandson of Eli (per 1:9), who is possibly the brother of Ahijah (14:3; 22:11), or Ahimelech may be another name for Ahijah. Not only is there a rejected king on the throne (15:26-29) but also a disqualified priest (2:30-36)..."
So this is not the tabernacle. It is still in Shiloh, and remains there until David brings it to Jerusalem I think...though not certain of that. This priest may have been the high priest visiting from Shiloh and using a different name, or it may have been his brother, who would likely have had quite a bit of prestige as the relation of the high priest. However, the verses in chapter 2 referenced above are where God rejects Eli because his sons are so corrupt, and precludes Eli's descendants from being priests of God. So...whomever Ahimelech is, he is a descendant of Eli, and not recognized as a priest by God.
This same MSB note also references Jesus' telling of this story in these verses:
26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" [Mar 2:26 ESV]
The MSB note here says that Abiathar was Ahimelech's son, who later was High Priest during David's reign. (But still a descendant of Eli?)
I wonder if Jesus' point was that David ate bread maintained by a disqualified priest, just as the High Priest in Jesus' time was so corrupt and so far from understanding that he too was rejected. I think Jesus' words often carry far more implication than just the words themselves. He wasn't just telling the Pharisees that they were wrong about the incident with the corn, but that they were completely rejected by God.
In any case, David gets the priest at Nob to give him five loaves of the bread of the presence. We are also introduced to Doeg, a servant of Saul, who was there at Nob the day all this happened. He is chief of Saul's herdsmen. Interesting that in vs 7, MSB says this in relation to Doeg:
Doeg had embraced the Hebrew religion (Doeg was an Edomite) and was at the tabernacle, perhaps detained because it was the Sabbath and he could not travel. So in this note at least, the true tabernacle built in the wilderness is now at Nob. That would mean this was the "official" bread of presence, and Ahimelech, whether another name for Ahijah the high priest, or just serving in Ahijah's place at that particular moment, is the priest in charge of the tabernacle at that moment. But a descendant of Eli in either case. Things are pretty messed up in Israel at this time.
2023 - Note that this priest does not know that David is on the run from the King. David lies to the priest and says that he is on a secret mission FROM the king, and needs food for himself and the men he is to meet on behalf of the King. These words perhaps convince this questionable priest to render aid to David. And then later, Saul kills this priest for his actions.
After he's eaten, David asks the priest if there are any weapons there he can have. The priest gives him Goliath's sword. David must be pretty strong at this point if he is going to swing that particular sword.
From there, David goes to King Achish in Gath. David is recognized there as King of Israel. So Saul's rejection by God, and apparently the fact that David has been anointed to replace him, is widely known. David realizes that they may see him as a future threat - or a current threat! . He is afraid, so he behaves as if he is insane.
2023 - Here is an interesting detail that I had not noticed. The priest at Nob gives David Goliath's sword. Goliath was from Gath. That is where David goes next, after he receives the sword. All in that place would have recognized that David was carrying Goliath's sword, because they had all known Goliath. They would have given David plenty of room when he walked into town with Goliath's sword. Like you'd give Billy the Kid room. Even so, David is afraid when it turns out that they know he is the anointed King of Israel. He worries that his calling card will not be enough to keep him safe since they know who he will be.