A city of priests, in Benjamin, near Jerusalem; its inhabitants were once put to the sword by command of Saul, for their hospitality to David, 1Sa 21:2; 22:9-23; Ne 11:32; Isa 10:32. Its site is unknown.

high place, a city of the priests, first mentioned in the history of David's wanderings (1Sa 21:1). Here the tabernacle was then standing, and here Ahimelech the priest resided. (See Ahimelech.) From Isa 10:28-32 it seems to have been near Jerusalem. It has been identified by some with el-Isawiyeh, one mile and a half to the north-east of Jerusalem. But according to Isa 10:28-32 it was on the south of Geba, on the road to Jerusalem, and within sight of the city. This identification does not meet these conditions, and hence others (as Dean Stanley) think that it was the northern summit of Mount Olivet, the place where David "worshipped God" when fleeing from Absalom (2Sa 15:32), or more probably (Conder) that it was the same as Mizpeh (q.v.), Jg 20:1; Jos 18:26; 1Sa 7:16, at Nebi Samwil, about 5 miles north-west of Jerusalem.

After being supplied with the sacred loaves of showbread, and girding on the sword of Goliath, which was brought forth from behind the ephod, David fled from Nob and sought refuge at the court of Achish, the king of Gath, where he was cast into prison. (Comp. titles of PS 34 and 56.)

A sacerdotal city in Benjamin, on a height near Jerusalem; the last stage of Sennacherib's march from the north on Jerusalem, from whence he could see and "shake his hand against Zion" (Isa 10:28-32). The high priest Ahimelech's residence in Saul's time, near Anathoth and Gibeah of Saul. (See AHIMELECH; DOEG; DAVID.) The scene of Saul's murder of the priests and smiting of the townspeople, on Doeg's information that Ahimelech had given David shewbread (1Sa 20:1-19; 21:1-9; 22:9-19). Inhabited again on the return from Babylon (Ne 11:31-35). E. of the north road, opposite Shafat, is a tell with cisterns hewn in the rock and traces of a town (Courier, Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement).

From the hill-top is a full view of Zion, though Moriah and Olivet are hid by an intervening ridge. "The hill of God" (1Sa 10:5,10), where the Spirit came on Saul on his way from Bethlehem after Samuel's anointing, was probably Nob, the seat then of the tabernacle, and meaning "prophecy." Shafat is Arabic for "view," answering to Josephus' Greek name Scopus. Nob may be related to Nabat, "to view." namely, the point from whence the full view of Zion breaks on the traveler from the N. Mizpeh is mentioned in Joshua (Jos 18:26) and in Nehemiah (Ne 3:7) in connection with Gibeon. At Mizpeh probably the tabernacle was erected on its removal from Shiloh. Mizpeh, "watchtower," corresponds to Nob "a high place commanding a view."

They never are named in the same passage as distinct. They both are mentioned in connection with the royal town Gibeon. Gilgal was the first temporary abode of the tabernacle, then Shiloh for more than three centuries and a half, then the Nob or high place of Gibeon, finally Jerusalem. Warren (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement) objects to Nob's being identified with Nebi Samwil that the latter is four miles and a half from Jerusalem, and separated from it by the deep ravine, wady Beit Hanina; the Assyrian king marching (Isaiah 10) from Geba to Jerusalem would be more likely to find Nob on his way, at that Scopus (near the city) from whence Titus looked down upon Jerusalem, rather than turning away four miles and a half to Nebi Samwil. Warren makes Nob distinct from Gibeon (el Jib), from which latter Nebi Samwil is one mile and a quarter distant. (See MIZPEH.)

A place of this name is mentioned in three passages

City in the tribe of Benjamin, in which Ahimelech the priest dwelt with the tabernacle of the Lord. It was visited by David when he fled from Saul, and he and his followers ate the hallowed bread. David said it "is in a manner common": cf. Mt 12:3-4. The priest also gave him the sword of Goliath. Through the treachery of Doeg, this led to the death of Ahimelech, his fathers house, and all the inhabitants of the city of Nob. 1Sa 21:1-9; 22:9-19; Ne 11:32; Isa 10:32. Not identified.

(high place)

1Sa 22:19; Ne 11:32

a sacerdotal city in the tribe of Benjamin and situated on some eminence near Jerusalem. It was one of the places where the ark of Jehovah was kept for a time during the days of its wanderings.

2Sa 6:1

etc. But the event for which Nob was most noted in the Scripture annals was a frightful massacre which occurred there in the reign of Saul.

1Sa 22:17-19