Topical Bible: Tabernacle: Pitched: At Nob

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The Tabernacle, also known as the Tent of Meeting, was a portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness. After the conquest of Canaan, the Tabernacle continued to serve as a central place of worship until the construction of Solomon's Temple. One of the notable locations where the Tabernacle was pitched is Nob.

Historical Context

Nob was a city of priests in the territory of Benjamin, near Jerusalem. It became a significant religious center during the time of King Saul. The presence of the Tabernacle at Nob indicates that it was a place of worship and sacrifice, serving as a spiritual hub for the Israelites.

Biblical Reference

The primary biblical account of the Tabernacle at Nob is found in 1 Samuel 21. Here, David, fleeing from King Saul, visits Ahimelech the priest at Nob. David requests provisions and inquires about a weapon, receiving the consecrated bread and the sword of Goliath. This narrative highlights the Tabernacle's role as a place of refuge and divine provision.

1 Samuel 21:1-6 states:
"Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech trembled when he met him and asked, 'Why are you alone, and no one is with you?' David answered Ahimelech the priest, 'The king has ordered me on some business and told me, "No one is to know anything about your mission or your instructions." And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.' The priest replied to David, 'There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread—if only the young men have kept themselves from women.' David answered, 'Truly, women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The bodies of the young men are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!' So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away."

Significance

The Tabernacle at Nob represents a period in Israel's history where the central place of worship was not fixed but moved according to divine guidance and historical circumstances. The events at Nob underscore the Tabernacle's role in providing spiritual sustenance and guidance, as well as its vulnerability to political and military conflicts.

Tragic Aftermath

The presence of the Tabernacle at Nob also led to a tragic event. After David's visit, Saul, in his paranoia and wrath, ordered the massacre of the priests at Nob, accusing them of conspiring with David. This massacre, as recorded in 1 Samuel 22:11-19, resulted in the death of many priests and marked a dark moment in Israel's history. The only survivor was Abiathar, who fled to David and later served as a priest during David's reign.

The Tabernacle's time at Nob, therefore, is a poignant reminder of the intersection between divine worship and human frailty, illustrating the challenges faced by those who served God amidst political turmoil.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 21:1-6
Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no man with you?
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Israelites
... green wadis of Moab, and there pitched their camp. ... descendants of Aaron served in
the tabernacle, and kept ... priests who were established at Nob of intentionally ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Properly speaking, there were no pitched battles between them ... towns"Ramah, Anathoth,
Michmash, and Nob, and thus ... who "served at the door of" the tabernacle. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm