Ahimelech
High Priest of Nob
Tunnetaan myös nimellä: Ahimelek, Ahimelech, Achimelech
Achimelech, son of Ahitub, was the high priest in the priestly town of Nob and belonged to Eli's priestly line through the Ithamar branch. His fate is inseparably linked to the conflict between Saul and David. When David arrived at Nob as a fugitive, Achimelech gave him, in good faith, the bread of the Presence from the sanctuary and Goliath's sword. The Edomite Doeg, who witnessed the event, accused Achimelech before Saul. Despite Achimelech defending his innocence by pointing to David's loyalty and position as the king's son-in-law, Saul sentenced him and all the priests of Nob to death. When the king's own soldiers refused to raise their hands against the Lord's anointed priests, Doeg himself carried out the dreadful massacre and killed 85 priests. This event marks a turning point in Saul's moral decline and can be understood as a partial fulfillment of the prophecy concerning judgment on Eli's house. Achimelech's son Abiathar survived as the only priest and joined David. The account of the bread of the Presence was later used by Jesus to illustrate that mercy and human need outweigh ceremonial regulations.
Perhe
Avaintapahtumat
Ahimelech Helps David at Nob
When David fled from Saul, he came to the priestly city of Nob where the high priest Ahimelech gave him holy bread to eat and the sword of Goliath.
1Then David rose and went, and Jonathan went back into the city.
וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן בָּ֥א הָעִֽיר׃
2David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech came trembling to meet him and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"
וַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ נֹ֔בֶה אֶל־אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד אֲחִימֶ֜לֶךְ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ מַדּ֤וּעַ אַתָּה֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ וְאִ֖ישׁ אֵ֥ין אִתָּֽךְ׃
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.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לַאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֗ן הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ צִוַּ֣נִי דָבָר֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־יֵ֧דַע מְא֛וּמָה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִ֥י שֹׁלֵֽחֲךָ֖ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ וְאֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֣ים יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי אֶל־מְק֥וֹם פְּלֹנִ֖י אַלְמוֹנִֽי׃
4Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find."
וְעַתָּ֗ה מַה־יֵּ֧שׁ תַּֽחַת־יָדְךָ֛ חֲמִשָּׁה־לֶ֖חֶם תְּנָ֣ה בְיָדִ֑י א֖וֹ הַנִּמְצָֽא׃
5The priest answered David, "I have no ordinary bread on hand—only holy bread, provided the men have kept themselves from women."
וַיַּ֨עַן הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־דָּוִד֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר אֵֽין־לֶ֥חֶם חֹ֖ל אֶל־תַּ֣חַת יָדִ֑י כִּֽי־אִם־לֶ֤חֶם קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יֵ֔שׁ אִם־נִשְׁמְר֥וּ הַנְּעָרִ֖ים אַ֥ךְ מֵאִשָּֽׁה׃ פ
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!"
וַיַּעַן֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־אִשָּׁ֤ה עֲצֻֽרָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם בְּצֵאתִ֕י וַיִּהְי֥וּ כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל וְאַ֕ף כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם יִקְדַּ֥שׁ בַּכֶּֽלִי׃
7So the priest gave him the holy bread, since there was none there but the bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with fresh, warm bread on the day it was taken away.
וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן קֹ֑דֶשׁ כִּי֩ לֹא־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֜ם לֶ֗חֶם כִּֽי־אִם־לֶ֤חֶם הַפָּנִים֙ הַמּֽוּסָרִים֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לָשׂוּם֙ לֶ֣חֶם חֹ֔ם בְּי֖וֹם הִלָּקְחֽוֹ׃
8Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's shepherds.
וְשָׁ֡ם אִישׁ֩ מֵעַבְדֵ֨י שָׁא֜וּל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נֶעְצָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וּשְׁמ֖וֹ דֹּאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִ֑י אַבִּ֥יר הָרֹעִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃
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."
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְאִ֛ין יֶשׁ־פֹּ֥ה תַֽחַת־יָדְךָ֖ חֲנִ֣ית אוֹ־חָ֑רֶב כִּ֣י גַם־חַרְבִּ֤י וְגַם־כֵּלַי֙ לֹֽא־לָקַ֣חְתִּי בְיָדִ֔י כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ נָחֽוּץ׃ ס
Doeg Sees David with Ahimelech
The Edomite Doeg, one of Saul's servants, was present at Nob and witnessed Ahimelech helping David.
7So the priest gave him the holy bread, since there was none there but the bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with fresh, warm bread on the day it was taken away.
וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן קֹ֑דֶשׁ כִּי֩ לֹא־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֜ם לֶ֗חֶם כִּֽי־אִם־לֶ֤חֶם הַפָּנִים֙ הַמּֽוּסָרִים֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לָשׂוּם֙ לֶ֣חֶם חֹ֔ם בְּי֖וֹם הִלָּקְחֽוֹ׃
Doeg Accuses Ahimelech before Saul
Doeg reported to King Saul that Ahimelech had helped David with food and weapons, which aroused the king's fury.
9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's servants, answered, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.
וַיַּ֜עַן דֹּאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִ֗י וְה֛וּא נִצָּ֥ב עַל־עַבְדֵֽי־שָׁא֖וּל וַיֹּאמַ֑ר רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־בֶּן־יִשַׁ֔י בָּ֣א נֹ֔בֶה אֶל־אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ בֶּן־אֲחִטֽוּב׃
10Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."
וַיִּשְׁאַל־לוֹ֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וְצֵידָ֖ה נָ֣תַן ל֑וֹ וְאֵ֗ת חֶ֛רֶב גָּלְיָ֥ת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י נָ֥תַן לֽוֹ׃
Ahimelech Defends Himself Before Saul
When Saul summoned Ahimelech and the priests from Nob, Ahimelech defended himself by pointing out that David was the king's faithful servant and son-in-law, and that he knew of no conflict between David and the king.
11The king sent for Ahimelech the priest, son of Ahitub, and for his father's whole household, the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ לִקְרֹא֩ אֶת־אֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ בֶּן־אֲחִיט֜וּב הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־בֵּ֥ית אָבִ֛יו הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּנֹ֑ב וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ כֻלָּ֖ם אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
12Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." He answered, "Here I am, my lord."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל שְֽׁמַֽע־נָ֖א בֶּן־אֲחִיט֑וּב וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנְנִ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃
13Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse—giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he could rise against me and lie in wait, as he does today?"
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר *אלו **אֵלָיו֙ שָׁא֔וּל לָ֚מָּה קְשַׁרְתֶּ֣ם עָלַ֔י אַתָּ֖ה וּבֶן־יִשָׁ֑י בְּתִתְּךָ֨ ל֜וֹ לֶ֣חֶם וְחֶ֗רֶב וְשָׁא֥וֹל לוֹ֙ בֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים לָק֥וּם אֵלַ֛י לְאֹרֵ֖ב כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ ס
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.
וַיַּ֧עַן אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר וּמִ֤י בְכָל־עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ כְּדָוִ֣ד נֶאֱמָ֔ן וַחֲתַ֥ן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְסָ֥ר אֶל־מִשְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ךָ וְנִכְבָּ֥ד בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃
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.
הַיּ֧וֹם הַחִלֹּ֛תִי *לשאול־**לִשְׁאָל־ל֥וֹ בֵאלֹהִ֖ים חָלִ֣ילָה לִּ֑י אַל־יָשֵׂם֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ בְּעַבְדּ֤וֹ דָבָר֙ בְּכָל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔י כִּ֠י לֹֽא־יָדַ֤ע עַבְדְּךָ֙ בְּכָל־זֹ֔את דָּבָ֥ר קָטֹ֖ן א֥וֹ גָדֽוֹל׃
The Massacre of the Priests at Nob
Saul ordered the execution of Ahimelech and all the priests in Nob. When the king's own men refused to lay hands on the Lord's priests, the Edomite Doeg carried out the massacre, killing 85 priests who wore linen ephods.
16But the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech—you and your father's whole household."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מ֥וֹת תָּמ֖וּת אֲחִימֶ֑לֶךְ אַתָּ֖ה וְכָל־בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ׃
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.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ לָרָצִים֩ הַנִּצָּבִ֨ים עָלָ֜יו סֹ֥בּוּ וְהָמִ֣יתוּ ׀ כֹּהֲנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה כִּ֤י גַם־יָדָם֙ עִם־דָּוִ֔ד וְכִ֤י יָֽדְעוּ֙ כִּֽי־בֹרֵ֣חַ ה֔וּא וְלֹ֥א גָל֖וּ אֶת־*אזנו **אָזְנִ֑י וְלֹֽא־אָב֞וּ עַבְדֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ אֶת־יָדָ֔ם לִפְגֹ֖עַ בְּכֹהֲנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס
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.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ *לדויג **לְדוֹאֵ֔ג סֹ֣ב אַתָּ֔ה וּפְגַ֖ע בַּכֹּהֲנִ֑ים וַיִּסֹּ֞ב *דויג **דּוֹאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִ֗י וַיִּפְגַּע־הוּא֙ בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וַיָּ֣מֶת ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא שְׁמֹנִ֤ים וַחֲמִשָּׁה֙ אִ֔ישׁ נֹשֵׂ֖א אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃
19He also put Nob, the town of the priests, to the sword—men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
וְאֵ֨ת נֹ֤ב עִיר־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ הִכָּ֣ה לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב מֵאִישׁ֙ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה מֵעוֹלֵ֖ל וְעַד־יוֹנֵ֑ק וְשׁ֧וֹר וַחֲמ֛וֹר וָשֶׂ֖ה לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃
Jesus Refers to the Event with the Showbread
Jesus referred to how David received the showbread from the priest at Nob as an example that human needs can take precedence over ceremonial regulations. The event is recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels.
3He said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε τί ἐποίησεν Δαυὶδ ὅτε ⸀ἐπείνασεν καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ;
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.
πῶς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως ⸂ἔφαγον, ὃ⸃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἦν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν οὐδὲ τοῖς μετʼ αὐτοῦ, εἰ μὴ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν μόνοις;
25He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him?
καὶ ⸀λέγει αὐτοῖς· Οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε τί ἐποίησεν Δαυὶδ ὅτε χρείαν ἔσχεν καὶ ἐπείνασεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ;
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."
⸀πῶς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ Ἀβιαθὰρ ἀρχιερέως καὶ τοὺς ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως ἔφαγεν, οὓς οὐκ ἔξεστιν φαγεῖν εἰ μὴ ⸂τοὺς ἱερεῖς⸃, καὶ ἔδωκεν καὶ τοῖς σὺν αὐτῷ οὖσιν;
3Jesus answered them, "Have you not even read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Οὐδὲ τοῦτο ἀνέγνωτε ὃ ἐποίησεν Δαυὶδ ⸀ὁπότε ἐπείνασεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ ⸀ὄντες;
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."
⸀ὡς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἄρτους τῆς προθέσεως ⸀λαβὼν ἔφαγεν καὶ ⸀ἔδωκεν τοῖς μετʼ αὐτοῦ, οὓς οὐκ ἔξεστιν φαγεῖν εἰ μὴ μόνους τοὺς ἱερεῖς;
Mainittu Raamatussa (16)
1. Samuelin kirja 21:21. Samuelin kirja 21:31. Samuelin kirja 21:91. Samuelin kirja 22:91. Samuelin kirja 22:111. Samuelin kirja 22:141. Samuelin kirja 22:161. Samuelin kirja 22:201. Samuelin kirja 23:61. Samuelin kirja 26:61. Samuelin kirja 30:72. Samuelin kirja 8:171. Aikakirja 24:31. Aikakirja 24:61. Aikakirja 24:31Psalmit 52:2