1 Samuel 21:7-9 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8

And David said unto Ahimelech ,.... After he had given him some of the loaves of the shewbread: and is there not here under thine hand spear or sword ? any weapon, meaning in the tabernacle, and in his keeping, and at his disposal; he knew the sword of Goliath was there, and perhaps had a principal view to it, and put this question in order to get that in his possession: for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me ; neither his sword, nor any part of his armour, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:9

And the priest said, the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah ,.... See 1 Samuel 17:2 , behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod ; the garment of the high priest, in which were the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, or the linen vestments of the priests; see 1 Samuel 22:18 ; which were laid up in a chamber for their use; and behind them the sword of Goliath was wrapped up in a linen cloth, and reserved as a monument of the... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:9

The sword of Goliath - It has already been conjectured (see 1 Samuel 17:1-58) that the sword of Goliath was laid up as a trophy in the tabernacle. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8-9

Is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? The sight of Doeg made David feel how helpless he was in case of attack, and he excuses his request for weapons by saying that he had left home unarmed because of the urgeney of the king's business. The whole matter must have seemed very suspicious to Ahimelech, but he was powerless, and answers that the only weapon in the sanctuary was David's own votive offering, the sword of Goliath, carefully deposited in a place of honour behind the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8-15

The hero unheroic. I. A WEAPON WAS GIVEN TO DAVID AT NOB THAT SHOULD HAVE STIRRED ALL THE HEROIC ELEMENT IN HIM AND RESTORED HIS FALTERING FAITH . Had he forgotten that the sword of Goliath was in custody of the priests? Or did he remember it, and was it for a sight and a grasp of this mighty weapon that he longed? Who can tell? The priest reminded him of the day when, with that very sword, he beheaded the prostrate giant in the valley of Elah.... 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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:9

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 21:9

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 21:8-15

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

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