Shmuel I Chapter 21 | David in Nov

David flees from Sha’ul and arrives in Nov. From the outset, Achimelekh suspects something unusual about David's arrival and must lie to calm him. David then secures provisions, taking the showbread meant for the priests, and requests Golyat's sword. In the middle of the story, the Tanakh includes a comment that seems minor at first but will prove critical later: "Meanwhile, one of Sha’ul’s servants had been detained there before the Lord; his name was Doeg the Edomite, and he was the chief of Sha’ul’s patrolmen."

As the famous principle attributed to Chekhov says, "If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired," and we later learn that Doeg reports this to Sha’ul, leading to the destruction of Nov.

Is David responsible for the massacre of the city of priests?

On the one hand, David needed the bread and the sword. On the other hand, as a fugitive of the king, he was aware that a servant of Sha’ul was present. Could David not have foreseen that something terrible might happen?

David, at least, holds himself accountable: "David said to Evyatar: ‘I knew on that day - when Doeg was there - that he would surely inform Sha’ul. I am responsible for all the lives of your father’s household.’” (22:22).

This willingness to assume responsibility may reflect David’s greatness — acknowledging his role even in ambiguous situations. However, while David takes accountability, the result was the death of an entire city.

After reading this chapter, perhaps we can ask ourselves: What are we responsible for, and what lies beyond our control? What actions are justified as “the right thing to do,” and what stops being right because of the potential consequences for those around us?