1 Samuel 21:7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:1-9

Here, I. David, in distress, flies in the tabernacle of God, now pitched at Nob, supposed to be a city in the tribe of Benjamin. Since Shiloh was forsaken, the tabernacle was often removed, though the ark still remained at Kirjath-jearim. Hither David came in his flight from Saul's fury (1 Sam. 21:1), and applied to Ahimelech the priest. Samuel the prophet could not protect him, Jonathan the prince could not. He therefore has recourse next to Ahimelech the priest. He foresees he must now be an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:7

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day ,.... When David came to Nob, and asked bread of the priest, and had it, which this man was an eyewitness of, 1 Samuel 22:9 , detained before the Lord ; either because it was sabbath day, and so he might not travel, at least no more than two thousand cubits; or by some vow of his, which he was obliged to stay and perform; or on account of some impurity he had contracted, which he came to be cleansed from; or this detention... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:7

Detained before the Lord - Probably fulfilling some vow to the Lord, and therefore for a time resident at the tabernacle. And his name was Doeg - From 1 Samuel 22:9 ; we learn that this man betrayed David's secret to Saul, which caused him to destroy the city, and slay eighty-five priests. We learn from its title that the fifty-second Psalm was made on this occasion; but titles are not to be implicitly trusted. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:7

David's visit to Nob had probably been dictated simply by a desire to get food while a few attendants were being collected for him, and under ordinary circumstances would have remained unknown to Saul. Unfortunately there chanced to be a person present there who informed the king of it, and brought a second terrible catastrophe upon the house of Eli (see on 1 Samuel 2:33 ); by working too upon his jealousy he caused Saul to commit a crime which sets him before us as a hateful and remorseless... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 21:7

Detained before the Lord - Either to fulfill a vow Acts 21:23-27, 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. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 21:7

1 Samuel 21:7. Detained before the Lord That is, at the tabernacle. It is not to be imagined that he was detained here by force, but by his own choice he stayed there that day, either because it was the sabbath day, on which he might not proceed on his journey, or for the performance of some vow, or other religious duty, to which he had obliged himself. His name was Doeg, an Edomite His native country was Edom; but he was proselyted to the Jewish religion. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:1-15

Flight from Saul (21:1-15)The first place to which David fled was Nob, which, since the destruction of Shiloh, had become the city of priests (21:1). About this time a few personal servants joined him, according to an arrangement he had made with them earlier. David obtained food for himself and his men by deceiving Ahimelech the priest concerning the purpose of his journey. Unfortunately for him, and for Ahimelech and the other priests, he was seen by someone sympathetic to Saul (2-9).From Nob... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 21:7

detained , &c. Probably from some ceremonial reason. Compare "shut up "(Jeremiah 36:5 ), or a "vow "(Acts 21:23-27 ), or "uncleanness" (Leviticus 13:4 , Leviticus 13:11 , Leviticus 13:21 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:7

DAVID RECEIVES THE SWORD OF GOLIATH"Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen. And David said to Ahimelech, "And have you here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 21:7

1 Samuel 21:7. Detained before the Lord— That is, not by force, but either on account of some vow, or for the making of some necessary expiation. read more