Nob was a city of the priests, the high priest resided there, and the tabernacle was pitched there 1 Samuel 21:4, 1 Samuel 21:6,1 Samuel 21:9; 1 Samuel 22:10. It was situated on the road from the north to Jerusalem, near Anathoth, and within sight of the holy city Isaiah 10:32; Nehemiah 11:32. But t... [ Continue Reading ]
A fresh instance of David’s unscrupulous readiness of invention (compare 1 Samuel 20:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMON - As opposed to holy. (See the marginal references, and compare the use of the word in Acts 10:14, Acts 10:28.) It gives an idea of the depressed and poor condition of the priesthood at that time, that Ahimelech should have had no bread at hand except the showbread.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VESSELS OF THE YOUNG MEN ... - i. e., their clothes Deuteronomy 22:5 or wallets (marginal reference), or other articles which might be Levitically unclean and need cleansing (Leviticus 13:58; Exodus 19:10, etc.; Mark 7:4), as well as the person. AND THE BREAD ... - The meaning is; “Though it is... [ Continue Reading ]
DETAINED BEFORE THE LORD - Either to fulfill a vow Acts 21:23, or on account of uncleanness, or under the law of lepers Leviticus 13:4, Leviticus 13:11, Leviticus 13:21, or as a proselyte. It is not impossible that Doeg may have been in custody or in sanctuary for some crime.... [ Continue Reading ]
WRAPPED IN A CLOTH BEHIND THE EPHOD - Rather, “in the cloak,” Goliath’s military cloak, which was part of the dedicated trophy. The ephod was naturally hung up where the high priest alone could get at it.... [ Continue Reading ]
ACHISH KING OF GATH - It appears from the title that Psalms 34 was composed on this occasion. (See the note there.) Nothing can give a more lively impression of the straits to which David was reduced than the fact of his going to the country of the Philistines.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING OF THE LAND - The Philistines gave him the title which their own lords bore.... [ Continue Reading ]
SCRABBLED - literally, made marks (margin), namely, the mark of the “tau” (t), which in the ancient Hebrew and Phoenician was in the shape of a cross. (See Ezekiel 9:4.) ON THE DOORS OF THE GATE - The gate of Achish’s palace-yard or court, in which the attendants waited. The house itself stood in t... [ Continue Reading ]