Nob

Nob was a priestly city in the territory of Benjamin, located near Jerusalem and visible from the northern approach to the city (Isaiah 10:28–32, where it figures in Sennacherib's march). It served as the location of the tabernacle and its sacred bread after the destruction of Shiloh, and the priests of Nob ministered there. David came to Nob when fleeing Saul, deceived Ahimelech the high priest into giving him the showbread and Goliath's sword (1 Samuel 21:1–9). Doeg the Edomite witnessed this encounter and reported it to Saul, who commanded Doeg to execute the priests of Nob — resulting in the massacre of eighty-five priests and the entire city's population, with only Abiathar escaping to join David (1 Samuel 22:9–23).