1 Samuel 21:6

Arabic KEH Ketab El Hayat (كتاب الحياة)

فَأَعْطَاهُ الْكَاهِنُ الْخُبْزَ الْمُقَدَّسَ إِذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَدَيْهِ سِوَى خُبْزِ الْوُجُوهِ الْمَرْفُوعِ مِنْ أَمَامِ الرَّبِّ لِكْي يُسْتَبْدَلَ بِخُبْزٍ سَاخِنٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُرْفَعُ فِيهِ.

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, the priest gives David some special bread from the tabernacle. This bread was meant to be kept holy and only given to priests, but because there was no other bread available, David received it. The bread was replaced every day to keep it fresh.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a special cookie jar that only grown-ups can touch. But one day, a visitor comes and is very hungry. Since there's no other food, the grown-up gives the visitor a cookie from the special jar to help them. This verse is like that, but with special bread for priests.

Historical Background

1 Samuel was written by various authors, possibly including the prophet Samuel, Nathan, and Gad. It was written around 1000-900 BC. This passage describes events during King David's time, detailing the relationship between David and the priest, Ahimelech, in a setting where religious laws and practices were strictly followed.

Living It Out Today

Today, we can learn from this verse about the importance of flexibility in helping others, especially when there is a need and no other options. Like David receiving the special bread, sometimes we need to be flexible with our rules to help those in need.

Topics

• hospitality
• laws
• priesthood
• sacrifice
• divine provisions
• flexibility

Related Verses

• Leviticus 24:5-9
• 1 Samuel 22:10
• Matthew 12:4
• Luke 6:4
• 1 Corinthians 9:13

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the priest give David the showbread?

The priest gave David the showbread because there was no other bread available. This action reflects a principle of compassion and necessity overriding usual religious protocols.

What is showbread?

Showbread, also known as bread of the Presence, was a special bread placed on a table in the tabernacle or temple to represent the constant presence of God among his people.

How does this event relate to Jesus' teachings?

Jesus later referenced this event in Matthew 12:4, explaining that spiritual laws can be more important than ceremonial ones when human needs are at stake.

What can we learn about leadership from this verse?

Leadership, as seen in this verse, requires making decisions that balance rules and compassion. It shows that leaders should prioritize the well-being of their people.