Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 21:5

5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have h[illegible: 1+ letters]en kept from us about these three days , since I came out , and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common : yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel .

As long as the Law required, Exod. 19. 15. And so long David and his men had, it seems, hid themselves for fear of Saul in some of those Caves, whereof there were many in those parts; whereby they were kept both from all Converse with any other persons besides themselves, and consequently from Women: and withal, from Food convenient for them.

From the place where Ionathan and David met.

i. e. Either, 1. their Garments, or other Utensils for their Journey. Or, 2. Their Bodies, for of them the Question was, v. 4. and having now said, that Women had been kept from them, he infers, that therefore their Bodies were Holy; their Members were Undefiled. Thus the word vessel is used, 1 Thess. 4. 4. and in other Authors, both Greek and Latine.

Heb. and this (to wit, the Bread; which is easily supplied out of the former Verse, because that was the thing about which the present discourse was, and against the giving whereof the Priest started an Objection, v. 4. to which, David here giveth an Answer) is in a manner, or, after a sort common: i. e. Considering the time, and our necessity: this may be asked in a manner, like common Bread, and so is used by others. For though for a season whilest it is to stand before the Lord, it be so Holy, that the Priest himself might not eat it; yet afterwards it is eaten by the Priest, and by his whole Family, as their common Food; and so it may be by us, in our circumstances.

If it were but newly put into the Vessel, it must give place to the great Law of Necessity, and Charity; because God will have Mercy preferred before Sacrifice. Or thus, Especially when, or, The rather because this day there is other (i. e. new Bread) Sanctified in the vessel, i. e. put into the Vessel which was made to receive this Bread; Exod. 25. 29. and thereby Sanctified, or Consecrated to God: and therefore the former Shew-bread is now to be removed, and employed for the common use of the Priest and his Family.

Marginal references: Or, especially when this day there is other sanctified bread.