1 Samuel 21:1-22:23

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 21:1

1. Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech—Nob, a city of the priests ( :-), was in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives—a little north of the top, and on the northeast of the city. It is computed to have been about five miles distant from Gibeah. Ahimelech, the same as Ahiah, or perhaps his brother, both being sons of Ahitub (compare 1 Samuel 14:3; 1 Samuel 22:4-11; 1 Samuel 22:20). His object in fleeing to this place was partly for the supply of his necessities, and partly for... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 21:1-9

David’s flight to Nob 21:1-9Nob stood one and one-half miles northeast of Jerusalem and two and one-half miles southeast of Gibeah. It stood on what is now called Mt. Scopus. There Ahimelech served as high priest. Priestly activity, and evidently the tabernacle, were now there (cf. 1 Samuel 17:54). It is significant that David’s first place of refuge was among God’s chosen representatives on earth. He wanted to get help from the Lord through them (cf. 1 Samuel 22:10) as he had done in the past... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 21:1-15

1. David’s initial movements chs. 21-22"The two chapters comprise a literary unit of three sections arranged in chiastic order. Chapters 1 Samuel 21:1-9 and 1 Samuel 22:6-23 are concerned with the priestly compound at Nob in Benjamin while the central section (1 Samuel 21:10 to 1 Samuel 22:5) summarizes David’s flight to Gath in Philistia, Adullam in Judah, and Mizpah in Moab." [Note: Youngblood, p. 727.] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:1-15

The Flight of DavidDavid 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.1. Nob] see on 1 Samuel 17:54. Alone] He had no escort or retinue.3. Better, ’Now, therefore, what is under thine hand? Five loaves? Give them into mine hand.’4. Hallowed bread] i.e. the shewbread. It was removed every sabbath and fresh loaves substituted.5. Better, ’of a truth women have been kept from us as is usual, when I go... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 21:1

(1) 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 years of his close connection with Samuel, he had had frequent and intimate communion. He hoped, too, in that friendly and powerful religious centre to provide himself and his few companions with arms and other necessaries for his exile; nor is it improbable that he purposed, through the friendly... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:1-15

CHAPTER XXVIII.DAVID AT NOB AND AT GATH.1 Samuel 21:1-15.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 becomes more carnal and more crooked. We saw in our last chapter the element of distrust rising up somewhat ominously in that solemn adjuration to Jonathan, "Truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death." These words, it is true, gave expression to an undoubted... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 21:1-15

6. David’s Varied Experiences CHAPTER 21 1. David at Nob with Ahimelech (1 Samuel 21:1-9 ) 2. David’s flight to Achish, King of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15 ) With this chapter begins the record of David’s wanderings as an exile. A number of Psalms were written by him during this period of the rejection of the Lord’s anointed. We shall point out some of them. These Psalms are prophetic also foreshadowing the rejection and the sufferings of Christ as well as the tribulations of the pious... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 21:1

21:1 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 counsel of the Lord. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:1-15

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 must have been others in the vicinity who where with him, because the Lord Jesus, in commenting on this occasion, definitely speaks of "those that were with him (David)" (Matthew 12:3). As he told Ahimelech, he evidently appointed his servants to a place in the area. Still, his words were not true... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:1-15

DAVID IN EXILE DECEIVING THE PRIEST (1 Samuel 21:0 ) Nob was northeast of Jerusalem and about five miles from Gibeah. David’s unexpected presence there, and alone, caused alarm (1 Samuel 21:1 ). His falsehood was unnecessary and wrong (1 Samuel 21:2 ), and is not commended of God (Psalms 119:29 ). “Hallowed bread” (1 Samuel 21:4 ) was the shew-bread in the tabernacle, which we studied in Exodus and Leviticus. It was removed the day before the Sabbath when it became lawful for the priests... read more

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