El reino unidoHigh priestKeeper of the tabernacle at Nobc. 1040–1010 BC
Akimelech, from Eli's priestly line and son of Ahitub, was high priest in Nob – the priestly city that housed the tabernacle after Shiloh was destroyed. When David appeared as a fugitive claiming to be on a secret royal mission, Akimelech acted in good faith: he let David eat the holy bread of the Presence and handed over Goliath's sword from the sanctuary. The Edomite Doeg, who witnessed the event, reported it to Saul. The king interpreted Akimelech's help as treason, and despite the priest's defense – that he knew nothing of the conflict between David and the king – Saul ordered his execution along with that of 85 other priests. When the king's own soldiers refused to raise their hands against the Lord's anointed, Doeg took on the task. Only Akimelech's son Abiathar survived and fled to David. The tragedy in Nob became a symbol of Saul's escalating tyranny and abuse of power, and the incident with the bread gained lasting theological significance when Jesus later used it to emphasize that mercy outweighs ceremonial rules.
When David fled from Saul and arrived at Nob, he claimed to Ahimelek that he was on a secret mission for the king. In good faith, Ahimelek gave him the showbread from the sanctuary, since no other bread was available.
3David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king has given me a commission and told me, 'No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on, or about my orders.' As for my men, I have arranged to meet them at a certain place.
6David answered the priest, "Truly, women have been kept from us, as always when I set out. The men's gear is holy even on an ordinary journey; how much more today will it be holy!"
9David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword here on hand? I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."
When Ahimelech was summoned before Saul, he defended himself by pointing out that he was unaware of the conflict between David and the king, and that David was a faithful and highly trusted servant in the king's house.
14Ahimelech answered the king, "Who among all your servants is as trustworthy as David? He is the king's son-in-law, he obeys your every command, and he is honored in your house.
15Is today the first time I have inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let the king not charge his servant or anyone in my father's household with anything, for your servant knew nothing of all this, small or great.
Saul ordered the execution of Ahimelech and all the priests in Nob. When Saul's own men refused to lay hands on the Lord's priests, Doeg carried out the massacre, killing 85 priests who wore the ephod.
17And the king ordered the guards standing beside him, "Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing and did not tell me." But the king's servants would not raise a hand to strike down the priests of the LORD.
18Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
Jesus used the incident with the showbread as an example when he defended his disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, showing that mercy can override ceremonial laws. In the Gospel of Mark, Abiathar is mentioned as high priest, which has been the subject of much textual criticism.
26He entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which only the priests are permitted to eat, and he gave some to those who were with him."
4How he entered the house of God, and they ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests.
4He entered the house of God, took the bread of the Presence and ate it, and gave some to those who were with him—bread that only the priests are permitted to eat."