1 Samuel 21

This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language. It is divided into 15 verses in English Bibles, but 16 verses in Hebrew Bible with different verse numbering.

There are some differences in verse numbering of this chapter in English Bibles and Hebrew texts:Note on 1 Samuel 21:1 in ESV

This article generally follows the common numbering in Christian English Bible versions, with notes to the numbering in Hebrew Bible versions.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}} Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q52 (4QSam{{sup|b}}; 250 BCE) with extant verses 1–3, 5–10.{{sfn|Ulrich|2010|pp=278–281}}[https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/dead-sea-scrolls/general-info/#1_samuel Dead sea scrolls - 1 Samuel]{{sfn|Fitzmyer|2008|p=35}}[https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/manuscript/4Q52-1 4Q52 at the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library]

Extant ancient manuscripts of a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (originally was made in the last few centuries BCE) include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century) and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}{{efn|The whole book of 1 Samuel is missing from the extant Codex Sinaiticus.{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Codex Sinaiticus}}}}

• {{bibleverse|1 Samuel|21:8–15|9}}: {{bibleverse|Psalm|34:1–22|9}}; {{bibleverse|Psalm|56:1–13|9}}[https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm 1 Samuel 21 Berean Study Bible]. Biblehub

• {{bibleverse|1 Samuel|21:1–6|9}}: Matthew 12:1–8; {{bibleverse|Mark|2:23–28|9}}; {{bibleverse|Luke|6:1–5|9}}

{{Location map+

| Israel jerusalem

| width=240

| float=right

| label= Ancient Israel

| caption= Places mentioned in this chapter

| places={{Location map~| Israel jerusalem

|lat=31.703056 |long= 35.195556

|mark=Blue_pog.svg

|marksize=6

|label=Bethlehem

|label_size=100

|position=top

}}{{Location map~| Israel jerusalem

|lat= 31.823333 |long= 35.231111

|mark=Red_pog.svg

|marksize=6

|label=Gibeah

|label_size=100

|position=left

}}{{Location map~| Israel jerusalem

|lat=31.700 |long= 34.847

|mark=Blue_pog.svg

|marksize=6

|label=Gath

|label_size=100

|position=right

}}{{Location map~| Israel jerusalem

|lat=31.65|long=34.8

|mark=Blue_pog.svg

|marksize=1

|label=Valley of Elah

|label_size=100

|position=right

}}{{Location map~| Israel jerusalem

|lat=31.853333 |long= 35.0325

|mark=Red_pog.svg

|marksize=6

|label=Nob

|label_size=100

|position=left

}}{{Location map~| Israel jerusalem

|lat=31.85 |long= 35.23167

|mark=Red_pog.svg

|marksize=6

|label=Ramah

|label_size=100

|position=top

}}

}}

• Gath
• Nob
• Valley of Elah

David's visit in Nob (north of Jerusalem) is the first scene in a narrative of the priests providing support for David—not willingly like from Jonathan and Michal, but through deception—that continues with tragic consequences in 22:6–23.{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=210}} David's surprise visit was suspicious, but quickly allayed by a concocted story of a secret mission.{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=210}}.{{sfn|Evans|2018|p=220}} The priest at Nob, Ahimelech, the grandson of Eli, was persuaded to give provision to David and his young men from 'holy bread' or 'bread of Presence' which was only reserved for priests (Leviticus 24:9), based on David's assurances that the young men were 'ceremonially clean' — through abstention from sex and that their 'vessels' (euphemism for 'sexual organs') were clean.{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=210}}

David also obtained Goliath's sword, which was 'wrapped in cloth behind the

ephod' (verse 9), a significant omen for future successes.{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=210}}

Now 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?"{{bibleverse|1 Samuel|21:1|NKJV}} NKJV or {{bibleverse|1 Samuel|21:2|HE}} in Hebrew Bible

• "Ahimelech the priest" was brother to that Ahiah (1 Samuel 14:3), who was apparently dead at that time, both were the priests and sons of Ahitub.Benson, Joseph. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/1_samuel/21.htm Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. 1 Samuel 21], accessed 9 July 2019

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 chief of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul."{{bibleref2|1 Samuel|21:7|NKJV}} NKJV

The reference to Doeg the Edomite in this verse becomes meaningful in the next part of the plot (22:9–10,18), whose presence could also be related to the long-standing animosity between Israel and Edom (Genesis 25:25, 30; Numbers 20:1–21; Judges 3:7-11). His 'detention' in the sanctuary was probably connected with an act of penance,{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=210}} or that he might be 'cultically unclean'.{{sfn|Evans|2018|p=221}}

David planned to take refuge in Gath, but was recognized by the courtiers of Gath, who recited the words specifically connected with his successes against the Philistines, perhaps by the fact that he was carrying Goliath's sword. Being outside YHWH's territory and within reach of the Philistines (maybe because he had not consulted YHWH before fleeing to Gath), David

acted quickly to feign madness. Achish, the king of Gath, was deceived and immediately let David go.{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=210}}.{{sfn|Evans|2018|p=222}}

:And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying:

::‘Saul has slain his thousands,

:::And David his ten thousands’?”{{bibleref2|1 Samuel|21:11|NKJV}} NKJV

• "Did they not sing": the chant cited in 1 Samuel 18:7 apparently had become a popular song.Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/1_samuel/21.htm 1 Samuel 21]. Accessed 28 April 2019.

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• Ephod
• Edomite
• Goliath
• Herder
• Kohen
• Philistines
• Saul

}}

{{Portal|Bible}}

• Related Bible parts: 1 Samuel 17, 1 Samuel 18, 1 Samuel 20

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite book|last=Auld|first=Graeme|chapter=1 & 2 Samuel|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC&pg=PA213 |editor=James D. G. Dunn and John William Rogerson|title=Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible|publisher=Eerdmans|year=2003|isbn=9780802837110}}
• {{Cite book|last=Bergen|first=David T.|title=1, 2 Samuel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eGT6fWsajqcC |publisher=B&H Publishing Group|year=1996|isbn=9780805401073}}
• {{Cite book| last=Chapman |first= Stephen B. |title= 1 Samuel as Christian Scripture: A Theological Commentary |publisher= Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company |year= 2016 |isbn= 978-1467445160 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kS4XDAAAQBAJ }}
• {{Cite book| last=Evans |first= Paul |title= 1-2 Samuel | series = The Story of God Bible Commentary | editor-first= Tremper | editor-last= Longman |publisher= Zondervan Academic |year= 2018 |isbn= 978-0310490944 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Uy8-DwAAQBAJ }}
• {{Cite book|last=Gordon|first=Robert|title=I & II Samuel, A Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JMJ1ZAnswuUC&dq=I+%26+II+Samuel:+a+commentary+Gordon&pg=PA338|publisher=Paternoster Press |year=1986 |isbn=9780310230229}}
• {{Cite book|last=Hertzberg|first=Hans Wilhelm|title=I & II Samuel, A Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=friNN7IdjOIC&q=Saul+appointed+anointed+instituted&pg=PA19|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|year=1964|edition=trans. from German 2nd edition 1960|isbn=978-0664223182|page=19}}
• {{Cite book|last=Tsumura|first=David Toshio|title=The First Book of Samuel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iLKAlhLDkMwC |publisher=Eerdmans|year=2007|isbn=9780802823595}}

{{Refend}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite book|last=Breytenbach|first=Andries|title=Past, Present, Future: the Deuteronomistic History and the Prophets |publisher= Brill| year=2000|chapter=Who Is Behind The Samuel Narrative? |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=uP22QHpnKq8C&dq=Breytenbach+Who+is+behind+the+Samuel+narrative&pg=PA50|editor=Johannes Cornelis de Moor and H.F. Van Rooy|isbn=9789004118713}}
• {{cite book | last= Coogan| first = Michael David | author-link= Michael D. Coogan | title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 | editor-last1 = Coogan | editor-first1= Michael David | editor-first2 = Marc Zvi | editor-last2 = Brettler | editor-first3 = Carol Ann | editor-last3 = Newsom | editor-first4= Pheme | editor-last4 = Perkins | edition= Augmented 3rd | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2007 |isbn = 978-0195288810 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last = Fitzmyer|first = Joseph A.|authorlink= Joseph Fitzmyer |title = A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature|publisher = William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC | year = 2008|isbn = 9780802862419|location = Grand Rapids, MI }}
• {{cite book | last= Halley | first= Henry H. | author-link= Henry Hampton Halley | title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)| publisher= Zondervan Publishing House | date= 1965 | url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr | url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}}
• {{Cite book | last = Hayes | first = Christine | title = Introduction to the Bible |publisher = Yale University Press | year = 2015 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SKbkXYHxvlAC |isbn = 978-0300188271}}
• {{cite book|last= Jones | first= Gwilym H. | chapter = 12. 1 and 2 Samuel | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John | editor-last1 = Barton | editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John | editor-last2= Muddiman | editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press | edition= first (paperback) | year = 2007 | pages = 196–232 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ | access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{Cite book|last=Klein|first=R.W.|chapter=Samuel, books of|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OJvO2jMCr8C |editor=Bromiley, Geoffrey W|title=The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia|publisher=Eerdmans|year=2003|isbn=9780802837844}}
• {{Cite book|last=Knight|first=Douglas A|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SNLN1nEEys0C&q=630+BCE&pg=PA62|editor=James Luther Mays, David L. Petersen and Kent Harold Richards|chapter=Chapter 4 Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomists|title=Old Testament Interpretation|publisher=T&T Clark|year=1995|isbn=9780567292896 }}
• {{Cite book | editor-last = Ulrich | editor-first = Eugene | title = The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants | year = 2010 | publisher = Brill | url = https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls }}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes | isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

{{Refend}}

• Jewish translations:
• [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15850/showrashi/true Shmuel I - I Samuel - Chapter 21 (Judaica Press)]. Hebrew text and English translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=1+Samuel+21 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=9&chapter=21&version=9 1 Samuel chapter 21. Bible Gateway]

{{First Book of Samuel}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samuel 1 21}}

21

Category:David

Category:Gath (city)