Overview
The Bible addresses nob across 17 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Samuel, Nehemiah and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Betrayal, Tabernacle, Priests and Shewbread. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Ahimelech, Saul and Doeg.
Key Bible verses about nob
Old Testament
1 Samuel
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?
And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. present: Heb. found
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. yea: or, especially when this day there is other sanctified in the vessel
So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought 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 thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
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.
And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
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.
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.
Nehemiah
People in the Bible and nob
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying nob for yourself
- Begin with 1 Samuel 21:1, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 1 Samuel, Nehemiah and 2 Samuel each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of David, Ahimelech and Saul and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Betrayal, Tabernacle, Priests and Shewbread.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about nob?
The Bible addresses nob across 17 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Samuel, Nehemiah and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Betrayal, Tabernacle, Priests and Shewbread. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Ahimelech, Saul and Doeg.
How many Bible verses are about nob?
The Bible references nob in 17 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention nob?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is 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?”
Which people in the Bible are associated with nob?
David, Ahimelech, Saul, Doeg and Goliath.
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