Ahimelech the Priest אֲחִימֶלֶךְ הַכֹּהֵן
priest of the city of Nob, who gave David bread and a sword—and was killed for it
A priest in Nob, where the Tabernacle stood in those days. David came to him alone and said he was sent by the king on urgent business. There was no common bread—only the bread of the Presence, taken from the table; Ahimelech gave it. And he gave Goliath's sword, kept there behind the ephod (I Samuel 21:2–10).
The informer. Doeg the Edomite was there, "detained before the Lord." He told Saul. The king summoned Ahimelech and all his father's house and charged them with conspiracy. Ahimelech answered plainly: "And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law and goes at your bidding and is honoured in your house?"—and of having inquired of God for him he said: "Did I then begin today to inquire of God for him?" (22:14–15).
Saul condemned him and all his house. The king's servants would not put out a hand against the priests; Doeg did: eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod, and the whole city of Nob, "both men and women, children and infants" (22:18–19).
One son escaped, Abiathar, and fled to David. So the house of Eli, of which the prophecy had been spoken, ended in a single day—and David said to Abiathar: "I have brought about the death of all the persons of your father's house" (22:22).
On the timeline
Related
Sources
Tanakh
- Shmuel I 21:2–10 — the bread of the Presence and Goliath's sword
- Shmuel I 22:11–19 — Saul's judgment, the servants' refusal, and the eighty-five priests
- Shmuel I 22:20–23 — Abiathar's escape and David's words
Basis: stated in the Tanakh.