David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
The verse belongs to the time when David was a fugitive being hunted by Saul. Its immediate background was Saul's slaying of the Lord's priests. After that slaughter Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped and fled to join David. David told Abiathar that he had known Doeg the Edomite would tell Saul, that he had occasioned the death of all of Abiathar's father's house, and that Abiathar should remain with him without fear in safety because the one seeking David's life was also seeking Abiathar's life.
The verse belongs to the time when David was a fugitive being hunted by Saul. Its immediate background was Saul's slaying of the Lord's priests. After that slaughter Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped and fled to join David. David told Abiathar that he had known Doeg the Edomite would tell Saul, that he had occasioned the death of all of Abiathar's father's house, and that Abiathar should remain with him without fear in safety because the one seeking David's life was also seeking Abiathar's life.