David at Nob: Bread and Goliath's Sword
1 Samuel 21:1-9
1 S.21.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ויהונתן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Sam 20:42 (verbal): Nearly identical wording and scene — the formula “and he arose and went; and Jonathan went into the city” appears here as the close of David and Jonathan’s secret meeting (direct verbal parallel).
- 1 Sam 23:16-18 (thematic): Jonathan seeks out David to encourage and strengthen him and they exchange covenantal assurances — a repeated motif of Jonathan’s supportive visits and their parting.
- 1 Sam 19:1-7 (thematic): Earlier episode in which Jonathan intercedes for David with Saul and facilitates David’s escape — another instance of Jonathan’s protective actions and movements on David’s behalf.
- 2 Sam 1:26 (thematic): David’s lament for Jonathan after his death highlights the emotional significance of their meetings and partings, casting earlier departures in tragic retrospect.
Alternative generated candidates
- He rose and went, and Jonathan came to the city.
- David rose and went; Jonathan came to the city.
1 S.21.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נבה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- אחימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויחרד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אחימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לקראת: PREP
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- מדוע: ADV
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- לבדך: ADV,2,m,sg
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- אתך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Mark 2:25-26 (quotation): Jesus cites the incident of David eating consecrated bread when he and his companions were hungry, explicitly alluding to the Nob episode (the same narrative in which David meets Ahimelech).
- Matthew 12:3-4 (quotation): Parallel Synoptic citation of David at Nob used by Jesus to justify his disciples' actions; ties directly to the priestly encounter and showbread episode that follows 1 Samuel 21.
- 1 Samuel 22:11-19 (thematic): Continues the narrative consequences of David's visit to Ahimelech at Nob—Doeg reports to Saul and the priests of Nob are executed, showing the peril triggered by David's solitary appearance.
- Psalm 34 (superscription) (structural): The psalm's superscription links it to David's episode of feigning madness before Abimelech/Achish (the same flight narrative including his visit to Nob), providing a poetic reflection tied to this narrative context.
Alternative generated candidates
- David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one is with you?"
- David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met David and said to him, 'Why are you alone, and no one is with you?'
1 S.21.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאחימלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- צוני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- ידע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מאומה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הדבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- שלחך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,m,sg
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- צויתך: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg+PRON,2,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- הנערים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- יודעתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- אל: NEG
- מקום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פלני: ADJ,m,sg
- אלמוני: ADJ,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (verbal): Same episode—David continues the ruse when he flees to Gath and subsequently feigns madness; continues the motif of concealment and deceptive behavior begun in v.3.
- 1 Samuel 22:9-23 (structural): Immediate literary consequence: Doeg reports Ahimelech's aid to Saul, leading to the priestly slaughter—shows the risk and fallout of David's secretive request.
- 1 Samuel 27:8-12 (thematic): Later instance of David deceiving others about his movements and loyalties while living among the Philistines—parallel theme of strategic deception for survival.
- Genesis 20:1-7 (thematic): Abraham's deceit (presenting Sarah as his sister) before a foreign ruler to protect himself—similar motif of concealment/falsehood to avert danger at a royal court.
- Psalm 34 (superscription) (allusion): The psalm is explicitly linked to the episode 'when he feigned madness before Abimelech' (parallel to 1 Sam 21); the superscription echoes and interprets the narrative context of David's behavior.
Alternative generated candidates
- David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter for which I send you and for which I command you.' I have not made the young men know anything about it."
- David said to Ahimelech the priest, 'The king charged me with a matter and said to me,
1 S.21.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- מה: PRON,int
- יש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- תחת: PREP
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- חמשה: NUM,m,pl
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תנה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- בידי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff1s
- או: CONJ
- הנמצא: PART,nif,ptc,ms,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Sam.21.6 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the episode: Ahimelech explains he has no ordinary bread but only 'holy' (consecrated) bread, clarifying what David requested/received.
- Mark 2:25-26 (quotation): Jesus explicitly cites the David/Abiathar incident—David eating the consecrated bread when hungry—to defend his disciples' actions, directly alluding to 1 Samuel 21.
- Matt.12:3-4 (quotation): Parallel to Mark: Jesus refers to David eating the bread from the house of God as precedent, drawing on the same episode at Nob to make a legal/ethical point.
- Luke 6:3-4 (quotation): Luke's Gospel records the same saying of Jesus about David and the consecrated bread, an explicit New Testament citation of the 1 Samuel incident.
- Lev.24:5-9 (thematic): Describes the 'bread of the Presence' and the priestly regulations for its arrangement and consumption—background law and cultic context for Ahimelech giving consecrated bread to David.
Alternative generated candidates
- And David said, "Now what do you have at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is found."
1 S.21.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויען: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אין: PART,neg
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חל: ADJ,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- תחת: PREP
- ידי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אם: CONJ
- נשמרו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,pl
- הנערים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אך: PART
- מאשה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Leviticus 24:5-9 (verbal): Prescribes the showbread (bread of the Presence) placed before the LORD and eaten by the priests — parallel to the “holy bread” Ahimelech offers David.
- Leviticus 22:10-16 (thematic): Regulations about who may eat sacred food and the requirement of ceremonial purity; relates to the priest’s condition that the young men be ritually undefiled (have kept from women).
- Matthew 12:3-4 (quotation): Jesus cites David’s eating of the consecrated bread to defend his disciples, directly alluding to the episode in 1 Samuel where holy bread is given to non-priests in need.
- Mark 2:25-26 (quotation): Parallel Gospel account in which Jesus refers to David and the consecrated bread as a precedent — a direct reference to the same incident at Nob.
- Luke 6:3-4 (quotation): Luke’s version of Jesus’ appeal to the David episode, again invoking the story of consecrated bread eaten by David and his companions.
Alternative generated candidates
- The priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand; there is only holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women."
1 S.21.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויען: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עצרה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- כתמול: ADV
- שלשם: ADV
- בצאתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- הנערים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חל: ADJ,f,sg
- ואף: CONJ+ADV
- כי: CONJ
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יקדש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בכלי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Mark 2:25-26 (quotation): Jesus cites David eating the consecrated bread as precedent for his disciples' actions on the Sabbath—explicitly referencing the event in 1 Sam 21 to justify exception from ordinary regulation.
- Matthew 12:3-4 (quotation): Parallel account to Mark: Jesus appeals to David's eating of the holy bread when in need, directly alluding to the incident recorded in 1 Samuel 21.
- Luke 6:3-4 (quotation): Luke's retelling of Jesus' defense uses the David episode as authoritative precedent—David and those with him ate the bread of the Presence when hungry, mirroring 1 Sam 21.
- Leviticus 24:5-9 (structural): Gives the ritual instructions for the showbread (bread of the Presence) and its consumption by priests—background to what David requested and ate in 1 Sam 21.
- Leviticus 22:10 (thematic): States the principle that 'most holy' things belong to the priestly household and are not for lay use—illuminates why David's receiving and eating the consecrated bread is exceptional.
Alternative generated candidates
- David answered the priest, "Indeed, the young men were consecrated to us as yesterday and the day before when I went out. The young men's vessels are holy; even though it is a journey of need today, they are holy."
1 S.21.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הפנים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- המוסרים: VERB,piel,ptcp,_,m,pl,def
- מלפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לשום: VERB,qal,inf
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חם: ADJ,m,sg
- ביום: PREP
- הלקחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 12:3-4 (quotation): Jesus cites David's eating of the consecrated (show) bread when defending his disciples, directly alluding to 1 Samuel 21 and its permission for priests to eat the bread of the Presence.
- Mark 2:25-26 (quotation): Parallel account to Matthew where Jesus references David and the consecrated bread as precedent—explicitly drawing on the event in 1 Samuel 21.
- Luke 6:3-4 (quotation): Luke's version of Jesus' appeal to the David episode, using the same tradition about the holy bread being eaten when no common bread was available.
- Leviticus 24:5-9 (structural): Prescribes the arrangement and purpose of the showbread (bread of the Presence) and states that it is to be eaten by the priests—provides the cultic/legislative background for 1 Samuel's description.
- Exodus 25:30 (thematic): Commands that showbread be set continually before the LORD on the table of showbread, establishing the ritual context for the 'bread of the Presence' mentioned in 1 Samuel 21:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no common bread there, only the showbread that is removed from before the LORD to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.
1 S.21.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעבדי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- שאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- נעצר: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ושמו: CONJ,NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- דאג: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האדמי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אביר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרעים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לשאול: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- 1 Sam 21:7 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same episode: this verse also records that Doeg the Edomite was present with Saul's servants, repeating his identification and setting up his role in the narrative.
- 1 Sam 22:9-19 (structural): Direct narrative continuation: Doeg's actions here (reporting to Saul and later slaughtering the priests of Nob) are the consequences of his presence and identification in 21:8.
- Psalm 52:1-9 (allusion): A psalm traditionally ascribed to David 'when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul'—it reflects on Doeg's treachery and violence, thematically linked to his role in 1 Samuel.
- 1 Sam 22:22-23 (thematic): David's disavowal of responsibility for the massacre and his pronouncement of innocence respond thematically to Doeg's betrayal; these verses highlight moral and theological fallout from Doeg's actions introduced in 21:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now there was a man of Saul's servants there that day before the LORD—his name was Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul's herdsmen.
1 S.21.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאחימלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- יש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- פה: ADV
- תחת: PREP
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- חנית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- או: CONJ
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- גם: ADV
- חרבי: NOUN,f,sg,poss1s
- וגם: CONJ
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- לא: PART_NEG
- לקחתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בידי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff1s
- כי: CONJ
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- נחוץ: ADJ,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 21:10 (verbal): Immediate narrative parallel — Ahimelech answers David that the only weapon present is “the sword of Goliath,” directly following David’s claim there is no spear or sword available.
- 1 Samuel 17:54 (verbal): Explains provenance of the weapon mentioned here: after David’s victory over Goliath he came into possession of Goliath’s sword, which accounts for its later presence with the priests.
- Psalm 34 (superscription) (allusion): The psalm’s heading links it to the episode where David feigned madness before the Philistine ruler (the Gath episode tied to 1 Sam 21–22), connecting the wider context of David’s flight and haste mentioned in 1 Sam 21:9.
- Luke 22:36–38 (thematic): The motif of being armed or unarmed for a mission: David claims he has no sword due to the king’s urgent business, while Jesus later instructs disciples to procure swords — a thematic contrast about readiness and violence.
Alternative generated candidates
- David said to Ahimelech, "Is there not here under your hand a spear or a sword? For I have not brought my sword or other weapons in my hand, for the king's business required haste."
And he rose and went; Jonathan entered the city.
David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech trembled before David and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one is with you?"
David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter on which I send you or of which I have commanded you.' I have told the young men only of a certain place." And he said, "Now what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or what there is."
The priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand; but there is consecrated bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women."
David answered the priest, "Truly, the young men have been kept from women since I went out—just as on the day before yesterday—and the young men's vessels are holy; it is the custom to be ceremonially clean, and even today they are holy in their vessels." So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, for there was no common bread there, only the bread of the Presence, which has been removed from before the LORD to put in its place hot bread on the day it is taken. Now one of Saul's servants was there that day before the LORD; his name was Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul's herdsmen.
David said to Ahimelech, "Is there not here under your hand a spear or a sword? For I have not brought either my sword or my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."