1 Samuel 21:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul 's herdsmen.

NIV: Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd.

NASB: Now one of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds.

CSB: One of Saul’s servants, detained before the Lord, was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite, chief of Saul’s shepherds.

NLT: Now Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief herdsman, was there that day, having been detained before the Lord.

KJV: 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 chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

NKJV: 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.

First Samuel 21:1–9 describes David's first stop when running for his life from King Saul. Arriving at the priestly city of Nob, David tells the chief priest he's on a secret mission and asks for supplies. The priest gives David holy bread and the sword of Goliath. Unfortunately, one of Saul's servants witnessed the conversation (1 Samuel 22:9–10). David then goes to Philistine city and acts like a madman when he realizes what a foolish choice he made (1 Samuel 21:10–15).

In 1 Samuel 21, David runs from King Saul to the city of Nob. There, he convinces the priest Ahimelech into providing bread and weapons for David and his non-existent soldiers. Ahimelech gives David holy bread and allows David to take the sword of Goliath kept in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 17:51). David flees to Gath to seek refuge with the Philistines. When the king's men recognize him, though, David pretends to be out of his mind to convince Achish that he isn't the champion of Israel, after all.

First 1 Samuel 21 sets David up as a paramilitary commander. Jonathan has admitted his father's murderous hatred of David. Jonathan and David part after confirming their covenant of friendship (1 Samuel 20). David runs to the priest Ahimelech and tricks him into providing food and a sword. David then recklessly seeks shelter from a Philistine king and only escapes by acting insane. Alone, David goes to a cave where he's quickly joined by his family and 400 men with their families. After hiding his parents away in Moab, David starts building his army (1 Samuel 22:1–5).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 9/16/2025 10:59:43 AM