The First Book of Samuel is the ninth book of the Bible and the first of two books that narrate Israel's transition from a theocracy led by judges to a monarchy, with Saul as first king and David as his successor. It is recognized as canonical by all major Christian traditions and by Judaism, where it is part of the 'Former Prophets' (Nevi'im Rishonim). The book covers approximately 100 years of Israel's history, from Samuel's birth to Saul's death.
1 Samuel
Chapter 21
Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no man with you?"
David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has commanded me to do something, and has said to me, 'Let no one know anything about the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you; and I have assigned the young men to a certain place.'
Now therefore what is under your hand? Please give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever is available."
The priest answered David, and said, "I have no common bread, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
David answered the priest, and said to him, "Truly, women have been kept from us as usual when I go on a journey. The vessels of the young men are also holy, though it is only a common journey. How much more then today will their vessels be holy?"
So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the show bread that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.
David said to Ahimelech, "Isn't there here under your hand spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste."
The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you would like that, take it, because there is no other except that here." David said, "There is none like that. Give it to me."
David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
The servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David the king of the land? Didn't they sing to one another about him in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?'"
David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
He changed his behavior in their sight, and pretended to be mad in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.
Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?
Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Should this fellow come into my house?"