nob Summary and Overview

high place, a city of the priests, first mentioned in the history of David's wanderings (1 Sam. 21:1). Here the tabernacle was then standing, and here Ahimelech the priest resided. (See AHIMELECH T0000143.) 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 NE 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 (2 Sam. 15:32), or more probably (Conder) that it was the same as Mizpeh (q.v.), Judg. 20:1; Josh. 18:26; 1 Sam. 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. (Compare titles of Ps. 34 and 56.)

(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|

NOB (height), a city of the priests in Benjamin, near Jerusalem. 1 Sam 22:19; Isa 10:32; Neh 11:31-32. In the time of Saul the tabernacle and the ark were probably at this place. 1 Sam 21:1, 1 Sam 21:4. The city was destroyed by Saul. 1 Sam 22:9-19. Van de Velde proposed to identify Nob with el-Inawiyeh, 1 1/2 miles northeast of Jerusalem, on the road to Anathoth, and this view is favored by Tristram, Baedeker, and Grove; but Jerusalem cannot be seen from that point, which is against this identification. Porter suggests a site about half a mile south of Tuleil el-Ful (Gibeah), where are ruins of cisterns, a tower, and large hewn stones - a site which commands a distant view of Zion. Conder, however, considers Nob and the Mizpeh of Jud 20:1; Josh 18:26; 1 Sam 7:15 as the same place, locating both at Nebi Samwil, about 4 miles from Jerusalem, where he finds traces of a court of the tabernacle. The site of Nob may be there, but that there should be any trace of the ancient tabernacle is exceedingly improbable. Moreover, Wilson questions the proposed identification of Conder, and would place its site on the hill Scopus; while another writer suggests that Nob is Almon under another name, and proposes to place it 1 mile north-east of Anathoth.

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" (Isaiah 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 (1 Samuel 20:1-19; 1 Samuel 21:1-9; 1 Samuel 22:9-19). Inhabited again on the return from Babylon (Nehemiah 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, Israel 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" (1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 10:10), 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 (Joshua 18:26) and in Nehemiah (Nehemiah 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 (Israel 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.)