This "contradiction" actually does not exist. First, Mark 2:26 does NOT say that Abiathar gave David the bread (as the OP suggest); all that Mark says is that the incident occurred during the priesthood ("during the days of") Abiathar the High priest. Note the verse as quoted below: > In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God > and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to > eat. And he also gave some to his companions." This is similar to that found in places like Luke 3:1, 2 where an almost identical time=location phrase is used: "during the high-priesthood of …" The reference in 1 Sam 21:1-6 clearly says that the actual priest involved in the transaction was "Ahimelech the priest". I see no contradiction here at all.