The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 12:3-4 – David at Nob: Was He Really Alone?

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Episode 196 examines the alleged contradiction about David asking for the holy bread at Nob: did he go alone or with companions? Host Lance Smith walks through 1 Samuel 21, the Gospel citations, such as Matthew 12:3-4, and scholarly insights to show that the texts focus on different moments of the same event and highlight mercy over ritual.

This short dive connects Ahimelech, David, and Jesus to explain how ancient storytelling, priestly law, and compassion form a consistent theological thread rather than a contradiction.

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  1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/alone.html  
  2. Bowes, William B. "Revisiting 'the Time of Abiathar the High Priest': Interpretation, Methodology and Ways Forward for Understanding Mark 2:26." Themelios, The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/revisiting-the-time-of-abiathar-the-high-priest/
  3. "Bible Contradiction? Was David alone when asking for the holy bread at Nob?" Veritas Domain. https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2025/01/02/bible-contradiction-was-david-alone-when-asking-for-the-holy-bread-at-nob/
  4. "The Problem of Abiathar in Mark 2.26." Credo House Ministries. https://credohouse.org/blog/the-problem-of-abiathar-in-mark-2-26
  5. "Was it wrong for David to eat the showbread in 1 Samuel 21:1–6?" GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/David-showbread.html
  6. "Why did Ahimelech give David the consecrated bread in 1 Samuel 21:6?" BibleHub.com. https://biblehub.com/q/Why_give_David_consecrated_bread_2.htm
  7. Lyons, Eric. "Who Was Joseph's Father in Jesus' Genealogy?" Apologetics Press. https://apologeticspress.org/who-was-josephs-father/ 
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