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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 21:2 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Sa 21:2	Strong Concordance	And David [01732] said [0559] unto Ahimelech [0288] the priest [03548], The king [04428] hath commanded [06680] me a business [01697], and hath said [0559] unto me, Let no man [0376] know [03045] any thing [03972] of the business [01697] whereabout I send [07971] thee, and what I have commanded [06680] thee: and I have appointed [03045] my servants [05288] to such [06423] and such [0492] a place [04725].
	King James	And 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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know--This was a direct falsehood, extorted through fear. David probably supposed, like many other persons, that a lie is quite excusable which is told for the sole purpose of saving the speaker's life. But what is essentially sinful, can never, from circumstances, change its immoral character; and David had to repent of this vice of lying (Psa 119:29).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know--This was a direct falsehood, extorted through fear. David probably supposed, like many other persons, that a lie is quite excusable which is told for the sole purpose of saving the speaker's life. But what is essentially sinful, can never, from circumstances, change its immoral character; and David had to repent of this vice of lying (Psa 119:29).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
A fresh instance of David's unscrupulous readiness of invention (compare Sa1 20:6).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

A fresh instance of David's unscrupulous readiness of invention (compare Sa1 20:6).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The king, &c. - This seems to be a plain lie extorted from him, by fear. But it was pernicious to all the priests there. Whence David afterwards declares his repentance for this sin of lying, Psa 119:29. To such a place - To a certain place which it not convenient now to mention; because the whole business requires concealment.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

The king, &c. - This seems to be a plain lie extorted from him, by fear. But it was pernicious to all the priests there. Whence David afterwards declares his repentance for this sin of lying, Psa 119:29. To such a place - To a certain place which it not convenient now to mention; because the whole business requires concealment.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The king hath commanded me a business - All said here is an untruth, and could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord; but there is no reason to believe that David was under the influence of Divine inspiration at this time. It is well known that from all antiquity it was held no crime to tell a lie, in order to save life. Thus Diphilus: - Ὑπολαμβανω το ψευδος επι σωτηριᾳ Λεγομενον, ουδεν περιποιεισθαι δυσχερες. "I hold it right to tell a lie, in order to procure my personal safety; nothing should be avoided in order to save life." A heathen may say or sing thus; but no Christian can act thus, and save his soul, though he by doing so may save his life.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

The king hath commanded me a business - All said here is an untruth, and could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord; but there is no reason to believe that David was under the influence of Divine inspiration at this time. It is well known that from all antiquity it was held no crime to tell a lie, in order to save life. Thus Diphilus: -

Ὑπολαμβανω το ψευδος επι σωτηριᾳ

Λεγομενον, ουδεν περιποιεισθαι δυσχερες.

"I hold it right to tell a lie, in order to procure my personal safety; nothing should be avoided in order to save life."

A heathen may say or sing thus; but no Christian can act thus, and save his soul, though he by doing so may save his life.

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