Location
Overview
Nob was a city of priests near Jerusalem, where the tabernacle's worship continued after Shiloh. It is remembered for an act of mercy to David and a terrible massacre.
The showbread and Goliath's sword
Fleeing Saul, David came to Ahimelech the priest at Nob, who gave him the holy showbread to eat and the sword of Goliath, kept there wrapped behind the ephod (1 Samuel 21:1–9). Jesus later cited this when his disciples plucked grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:3–4).
The massacre of the priests
Doeg the Edomite reported it to Saul, who in a rage ordered the priests killed. Doeg "fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod"; then he struck Nob itself, man and beast (1 Samuel 22:18–19).
One who escaped
Only Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, escaped to David, carrying the ephod — the sole survivor of the priestly line of Nob (1 Samuel 22:20).
Events Here
Ahimelech gives David the showbread and Goliath’s sword at Nob
Saul orders the massacre of the priests of Nob
Scripture References
6 verses1 Samuel4 verses
1 Samuel 21:1
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?
1 Samuel 22:9
Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
1 Samuel 22:11
Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
1 Samuel 22:19
And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
Nehemiah1 verse
Nehemiah 11:32
And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
Isaiah1 verse
Isaiah 10:32
As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Archaeology & History
Nob's exact location is uncertain, somewhere just north of Jerusalem on the approach Isaiah describes the Assyrian taking (Isaiah 10:32). Its role as a priestly centre suggests the tabernacle and its priests had relocated there after the destruction of Shiloh.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Nob
Where is Nob today?
Today, Nob corresponds to Near Jerusalem (site uncertain).
What happened at Nob in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Nob include ahimelech gives david the showbread and goliath’s sword at nob; saul orders the massacre of the priests of nob.
Where is Nob first mentioned in the Bible?
Nob is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 21:1.
How often is Nob mentioned in the Bible?
Nob is mentioned in 6 verses across 3 books: 1 Samuel, Nehemiah, Isaiah.
What happened at Nob?
The priest Ahimelech gave the fleeing David the holy showbread and Goliath’s sword. When Saul learned of it, he had Doeg slaughter eighty-five priests and destroy the city.
Why did Jesus mention Nob?
He referred to David eating the showbread at Nob to show that mercy and need rightly outweigh ceremonial restriction (Matthew 12:3–4).