I Shmuel 21: The Sword in the Sanctuary

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Aug 18, 2026 · 3m

David escapes from Shaul and runs to Nov, a city of priests. There, David asks Achimelech for bread and a weapon. Achimelech replies that the only bread available is the holy bread and that the only sword available is Goliath’s sword, which has been kept in the sanctuary. This interaction is difficult. Why did David run to Nov if he needed ordinary provisions and weapons? David must have known that a city of priests would be unlikely to have non-sacred bread readily available. He also would have been unlikely to find an ordinary weapon there, particularly in light of God’s command regarding…