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Summarized Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 21:1-15

Contents: David flees to Ahimelech and Achish.

Characters: David, Ahimelech, Doeg, Achish.

Conclusion: If we would but trust God aright, we would not have to resort to miserable and dishonoring devices for our preservation in times of testing.

Key Word: Afraid, 1 Samuel 21:12.

Strong Verses: 1 Samuel 21:9.

Striking Facts: 1 Samuel 21:6. Jesus showed from this in Matthew 12:3 that ritual observances must at times give way to moral duties in case of urgent necessity, thus He justified His disciples in plucking corn on the Sabbath day.

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See also 1 Samuel 21:1-15 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XXI _David comes to Ahimelech at Nob, receives provisions from him,_ _and the sword of Goliath; and is noticed by Doeg, one of the_ _servants of Saul_, 1-9. _He leaves Nob, and goes to Ach...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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;...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    6. DAVID'S VARIED EXPERIENCES CHAPTER 21 _ 1. David at Nob with Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1)_ 2. David's flight to Achish, King of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10) With this chapter begins the record of David's...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 SAMUEL 21. DAVID AT NOB AND GATH. 1 Samuel 21:1 (J). From one of the ancient documents; it is not clear which of the previous sections finds its sequel here. It is often connected with 1 Samuel 19:1...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    AHIMELECH. So called here and in 1 Samuel 22:9; 1 Samuel 22:11; 1 Samuel 22:14; 1 Samuel 22:16;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    1 Samuel 21:1-9. David's visit to Nob 1. _to Nob_ Nob was at this time a city of the priests (1 Samuel 22:19), though it is not specified among the places assigned to them by Joshua: here, as is clear...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEN CAME DAVID TO NOB— _Nob_ was in the tribe of Benjamin, about twelve miles from Gibeath, not far from Anathoth, Nehemiah 11:32 and Jerusalem, Isaiah 10:32. It appears from the 19th verse, of the n...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    David's Flight to Gath, 1 Samuel 21:1-15. _David At Nob._ 1 Samuel 21:1-9 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why _ar...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _THEN CAME DAVID TO NOB TO AHIMELECH THE PRIEST: AND AHIMELECH WAS AFRAID AT THE MEETING OF DAVID, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHY ART THOU ALONE, AND NO MAN WITH THEE?_ Then came David ... to Ahimelech. Nob...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    NOB] see on 1 Samuel 17:54. ALONE] He had no escort or retinue....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FLIGHT OF DAVID David first of all flees to Nob, where Ahimelech supplies him with food and gives him the sword of Goliath. He next takes refuge with Achish at Gath....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 21 DAVID GOES TO THE TOWN OF NOB V1 David went and visited Ahimelech the priest. He lived in the town of Nob. Ahimelech trembled when he went...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEN CAME DAVID TO NOB. — Before leaving his native land, David determined once more to see, and if practicable to take counsel with, the old high priest of Israel, with whom, no doubt, in the past ye...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[1 Samuel 21:2]_ וַ יָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ נֹ֔בֶה אֶל...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXVIII. _ DAVID AT NOB AND AT GATH._ 1 Samuel 21:1. WE enter here on a somewhat painful part of David's history. He is not living so near to God as before; and in consequence his course beco...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FOOD AND WEAPON: A SIDE STEP 1 Samuel 21:1 David fled to Nob, at the north of the Mount of Olives, where Ahimelech presided over the relics of the ancient sanctuary. His suspicions were removed by an...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Under such trying stress, the land itself seemed too hot to hold David, and he takes refuge in flight. The story of his period of exile, with its varied experiences, follows. His movements during this...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then came David to (a) Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee? (a) Where the ark then was to ask...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Nobe. A city in the tribe of Benjamin, to which the tabernacle of the Lord had been translated from Silo. (Challoner) --- It was about 12 miles south-west of Gabaa. (Tudelensis.) --- There was another...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The troubles of David are prosecuted in history through this chapter. Being driven from home, and like one banished the land, he visits Nob; receives from Ahimelech, the priest, hallowed bre...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We enter now on a portion of David's history sensibly different from what we have already had, which closed with the efforts of Jonathan to restore matters and to attach Saul to him at least openly. J...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The elect king is now rejected. He repairs to the priest, who gives him the hallowed bread, according to the sovereign grace of God, who rises above the ordinances that are connected with blessing, wh...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN CAME DAVID TO NOB, TO AHIMELECH THE PRIEST,.... The high priest, as Abarbinel rightly calls him; he was the brother of Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, who being dead he succeeded him; though some say...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee? Ver. 1. _Then came David to Nob._] Not...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then came David to Nob_ A city of the priests in the tribe of Benjamin, about twelve miles from Gibeah, not far from Anathoth and Jerusalem, Nehemiah 11:32; Isaiah 10:32. The tabernacle, it appears,...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    [DAUID AT NOB.] 1 Dauid at Nob, obtaineth of Ahimelech hallowed bread. 7 Doeg was present. 8 Dauid taketh Goliaths sword. 10 Dauid at Gath faineth himselfe madde. 1 THEN came Dauid to Nob, to Ahi...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then came David to Nob, a city of priests between Gibeah and Jerusalem, on a hill in whose neighborhood the Tabernacle seems to have been located for some years, at least temporarily,4) TO AHIMELECH,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    DAVID AT NOB...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    David came down to Nob, which was a cause of alarm to Ahimelech the priest, who asks why he had no man with him. It would seem from the history here that he had no-one identified with him, yet there m...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 David, in distress, fled to the tabernacle of God. It is great comfort in a day of trouble, that we have a God to go to, to whom we may open our cases, and from whom we may ask and expect directi...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 21 David cometh to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; pretendeth secret business from Saul; asketh bread: Ahimelech giveth him the shew-bread, 1 SAMUEL 21:1. Doeg seeth this, 1 SAMUEL 21:7....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 21:1 David H1732 came H935 (H8799) Nob H5011 Ahimelech H288 priest H3548 Ahimelech H288 afraid H2729 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    AS A REFUGEE DAVID VISITS AHIMELECH THE PRIEST AND OBTAINS PROVISIONS AND WEAPONS (1 SAMUEL 21:1). Recognising that he dare not return home to obtain food or weapons, the refugee David seeks help from...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    AHIMELECH called Ahiah, also Abiathar. (1 Samuel 14:3)....

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 21:1. _Nob;_ fifteen miles west of Jerusalem, and on the road to Gath, where the wandering ark now rested. It was a little city of priests. After they were all murdered, by Saul, the ark was...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then came David to Nob._ ALMOST GONE It is not easy to walk with God. I. The steps of David’s declension. The first sign of what was impending was his remark to Jonathan, that there was but a step...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 21:1 David begins his life as a fugitive. He moves around from place to place, gathering a group of 400 men, which later increases to 600. Saul is single-minded in his determ...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 21:1. The position of Nob cannot now be determined, only from Isaiah 10:28, we gather that it was on the road northward between Jerusalem and Anathoth. Porter i...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    DAVID'S FLIGHT TO NOB, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE PHILISTINES (1 Samuel 21:1.). EXPOSITION DAVID'S FLIGHT TO NOB ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So David now fled to Nob to Ahimelech who was the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said to him, Why are you alone, why aren't there men with you? [You know David was a cap...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 14:3; 1 Samuel 16:4; 1 Samuel 22:19; 1 Samuel 22:9; Isai

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Nob — A city of priests, where the tabernacle now was. Hither David resorted, for a supply of his necessities, which he supposed he might receive here, without danger of being betrayed into Saul's han...

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