Commentary for Zevachim 14:7

באו לנוב ולגבעון – when Shiloh was destroyed at the end of three-hundred and seventy years minus one (i.e., 369 years), when the Sanctuary was there, and the Ark was taken in the days of Eli [the priest, at the time when Samuel had been serving him], they came to Nob [for thirteen years], but Nob was destroyed during the days of [King] Saul (see First Samuel, Chapter 22, verses 17-19) and they came to Givon. And all the days of Nob and Givon were fifty-seven years, and all that time, the Bamot/platforms/improvised altars (i.e., name of legitimate altars prior to, and of the illegitimate after, the establishment of a century sanctuary - at Shiloh – and of the Temple at Jerusalem) were permitted, for the All-Merciful stated regarding the prohibition of the improvised altars (Deuteronomy 12:9): “Because you have not yet come to the allotted haven/אל – המנוחה ואל – הנחלה [that the LORD your God is giving you].” מנוחה – is Shiloh, נחלה – is Jerusalem, but Scripture did not did not divide them other in order to provide a permission for improvised altars whether in this or that period.

When they came to Nov and to Givon, bamot were [again] permitted. When Shiloh was destroyed and the ark was taken by the Philistines (I Samuel 4) the Tabernacle was set up in Nov (I Samuel 21). And after Nov was destroyed during Saul’s reign (I Samuel 21-22), they brought the Tabernacle to Givon (I Kings 3:4). While the Tabernacle was in Nov and Givon local altars were again permitted. It seems that these were not important central places, as were Shiloh and subsequently Jerusalem. Thus sacrifices could be offered outside of the Tabernacle.

קדשי קלים בכל ערי ישראל – and the same law applies to the Second Time, for Scripture made an analogy between them, as it is written (Deuteronomy 12:17): “You may not partake in your settlements of the tithes of your new grain [or wine or oil, of the firstlings of your herds and flocks,] or any of the votive offerings that you vow.” At the time when the lesser Holy Things require being brought to the Place (i.e., the Sanctuary), at the time when the lesser Holy Things [are brought] throughout the cities of Israel, even the Second Tithe is within all the cities of Israel (after the conquest and the division of the Land.

Most holy sacrifices were eaten within the curtains, and less holy sacrifices in all of the cities of Israel. As was the situation before Shiloh, once Shiloh was destroyed most holy sacrifices must be eaten within the Tabernacle, whereas less holy sacrifices, specifically voluntary offerings, could be eaten anywhere within the cities of Israel. Note that when the Tabernacle was in Gilgal (mishnah five) they could eat anywhere. Once the cities were built they offered sacrifices there.