Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 21:4

4 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand , but there is hallowed bread if the young men have kept themselves at least from women .

To wit, here in the Tabernacle: though doubtless he had enough of that, and of other Provisions in his House; but David was in great haste, and in fear of Doeg whom he saw, and knew there, Chap. 22. 2[illegible: 1+ letters]. and therefore would not stay till any thing could be fetched thence.

The Shewbread, which was appropriated to the Priests; of which see Exod. 25. 30. Levit. 24. 5.

Either from [illegible: 1 word] by▪ Women, which might be divers ways contracted: or from Conjugal converse with their Wives; which though it did not defile them, yet he thought might debar them from the participation of such very Sacred things; which he gathered by the Analogy of that Precept, Exod. 19. 15. There was a double impediment to the giving of this Bread to them; 1. Its Sacredness in its self; which the Priest implies, and David answers v. 5. and the Priest was satisfied therein by Davids extraordinary Occasions, and great necessities. 2. The Purity and Abstinence from all Women, which he supposeth should be in those that use it; concerning which he now enquires. And though he mention this onely concerning David's young men, and out of Modesty and Reverence to David, forbears to name him; yet he is also included in the number, as Davids answer shews.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]