A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
David was a man who won the hearts of the people because he usually put their interests before his own. However, after hiding from Saul in a field for three days (1 Samuel 20), and fleeing to Nob, a village of priests about two miles southeast of Gibeah, he was looking out more for himself than for others. He lied to save his own skin, and this lie proved to be a weak link in a chain of events that led to the slaughter of the priests.
Because Ahimelech the priest was alarmed when David arrived in Nob, David feared that Ahimelech would refuse to help him if he knew that he was fleeing from Saul. Therefore, in order to obtain food and a weapon, David told the priest that he was on a secret mission for the king. This lie endangered Ahimelech by making him an unwitting accomplice to David's flight. In making Ahimelech an unwitting accomplice, he showed little concern for his neighbor's safety. The Law required David to love his neighbor as himself (Leviticus 19:18), but David deceived the priest contrary to Leviticus 19:11 and prevented him from becoming aware of that danger. David knew the danger Ahimelech faced for he had seen Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief shepherd, in the village, and was quite sure he would tell Saul what the priest had done (1 Samuel 22:22).
David had two ways to deal with the danger Doeg posed to Ahimelech. One was to adopt Machiavellian principles completely and kill Doeg (see Bergen, 2001, p. 231). However, to do that would only deepen Saul's suspicions of Ahimelech's involvement a conspiracy to help David escape. Furthermore, Ahimelech's brother Ahijah had been an associate of Saul (1 Samuel 14:3), so others might also need to be silenced. No one could predict where the deception and bloodshed might end. Fortunately, David did not act according to Machiavellian principles.
Instead of killing Doeg, David could have confessed his lie to Ahimelech and warned him of the danger he and his family faced. If the priest were forewarned, he could have made some plans for meeting the danger. He could have, at the very least, taken steps to hide and protect his family.
Regrettably, David did not confess his sin or warn the priest. Instead, he chose to remain silent and flee for his own life. Consequently, Ahimelech did not suspect any danger when he was called to appear before Saul. In his anger, Saul commanded that Ahimelech and his entire family be killed. Certainly, David was justified in asking the priest for food, obtaining a sword, and inquiring of the Lord (see 1 Samuel 22:10), but the lie was the one weak link in all of his actions because it left the priests vulnerable to Saul's insane anger.
References
Bergen, Robert, 2001, New American Commentary, Vol. 7, 1, 2 Samuel.
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