1. 1 Samuel 21:7 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does it mean for someone to be detained before the LORD?

1 Samuel 21:7 (ESV)

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen.

It is not clear what is meant by this phrase. Presumably a person would be kept for some kind of ceremonial purpose. Possibly it refers to instruction in the faith (seeing as Doeg was an Edomite).1