present to observe David’s transactions with Ahimelech. Why Doeg the Edomite was present—‘detained before the Lord’—we are not told. But he was later to be the executioner of Ahimelech and the priests of the tabernacle (22:9–10, 18–19). This section properly ends with 21:10: ‘That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.’ Nothing demonstrates David’s fearful confusion more than his flight to Gath. David had been given every assurance from the Lord that he would