Bible Location
Meaning: discourse; prophecy · 6 cross references · Modern-day map available
Nob was the priestly town near Jerusalem where David received holy bread and Goliath's sword from Ahimelech. It is important because it became the scene of Saul's brutal massacre of the priests and one of the most tragic moments in the early monarchy. First appears in 1 Sam 21:1.1
Place meaning
discourse; prophecy
Coordinates
31.80, 35.23
First appears
1 Sam 21:1
AI summary: Nob carries extraordinary emotional weight in the books of Samuel. It appears first as the place where David, vulnerable and on the run, is sustained by priestly generosity and sacred provision. That same act leads to Saul's suspicion and to the killing of the priests of Nob, turning the town into a sign of the king's spiritual and political collapse. Later references keep Nob in view as a visible approach to Jerusalem. The cross references present Nob as a priestly town of shelter, sacrilege, and royal violence.1
Place meaning
discourse; prophecy
Latitude
31.80
Longitude
35.23
Bible references
6
High place, a city of the priests, first mentioned in the history of David’s wanderings (1 Sam. 21:1). Here the tabernacle was then standing, and here Ahimelech the priest resided. (See AHIMELECH.) From Isa. 10:28-32 it seems to have been near Jerusalem. It has been identified by some with el-Isawiyeh, one mile and a half to the north-east of Jerusalem. But according to Isa. 10:28-32 it was on the south of Geba, on the road to Jerusalem, and within sight of the city. This identification does not meet these conditions, and hence others (as Dean Stanley) think that it was the northern summit of Mount Olivet, the place where David “worshipped God” when fleeing from Absalom (2 Sam. 15:32), or more probably (Conder) that it was the same as Mizpeh (q.v.), Judg. 20:1; Josh. 18:26; 1 Sam. 7:16, at Nebi Samwil, about 5 miles north-west of Jerusalem.
After being supplied with the sacred loaves of showbread, and girding on the sword of Goliath, which was brought forth from behind the ephod, David fled from Nob and sought refuge at the court of Achish, the king of Gath, where he was cast into prison. (Comp. titles of Ps. 34 and 56.) 3
Source note: this 1893 dictionary language reflects its period and may be culturally insensitive or outdated. It is presented as historical source material, not as ai-BIBLE’s language, interpretation, or endorsement.
| Book | Cross-References |
|---|---|
| 1Sam | |
| Neh | |
| Isa |
Figure1: A table of cross references between the selected passage and other passages (Data from Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.)
AI-assisted summary prepared for ai-BIBLE and stored as page content, based on dictionary material, place metadata, and linked Bible cross references.
Alistair de Blacquiere-Clarkson, “ai-BIBLE Bible Names JSON Factsheet Aggregating Material from Smith’s Bible Dictionary & Hitcocks’s New and Complete Analysis of the Bible.” ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
M.G.Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ai-BIBLE electronic edition, version 1.0.
Robert Rouse, “Theographic Bible Information,” Theographic-Bible-Metadata, 2020, https://github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata.