1 Samuel 21

1 Samuel 21:1

NOb] A City of Benjamin: Nehemiah 11:32. into which it seemeth the Tabernacle was brought from Siloh, by the authority, and in the behalfe of saul, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, as twas brought to Siloh, a city of Ephraim, in the dayes of Ioshua the Ephramite, and David afterwards carried it into his Tribe, to have Gods oracle alwayes neere him, upon all occasions; and that was the reason that there were so many Priests in Nob as afraid] suspecting some sinister accident, seeing the Kings sonne in Law, and such a great commander in warre, alone or with but small company Alone] By the fourth verse, and Matth. 12. 3. It is plaine, that David was not alone in this voyage, but by this word is onely to bee understood that hee was without his ordinary traine of followers.

1 Samuel 21:3

Under thine hand] What food thou hast ready to be eaten.

1 Samuel 21:4

Hallowed] In other places, bread of the presence or Shew-bread Exodus. 25 30 Matthew 12:4 Young men. Those few that David had with him Kept themselves] They ought not to be eaten, but onely by the Priest, Leviticus 24:9. Yet in this urgent necessity, which thou shewest unto mee, I will give you share of them, so that you have refrained from all cohabitation with women, though legall, which though it was not comanded by the law, yet was observed by a laudable kind of devotion, in your most sacred occurrences, as Exodus chapt. 19. v. 15. Zac. ch. 7. v. 3.

1 Samuel 21:5

Vessells] That is to say we, and all that we have, having been clean from all ceremoniall pollution, ever since our departure, though we did not think to doe any religious act. How much more carefull then will we be this day, of not prophaning the hallowed bread, by any bodily pollution of our persons, or of any thing about us? see Haggai 2:13.

1 Samuel 21:6

That was taken] On the Sabbath day: see Lev. 24. 8. 9.

1 Samuel 21:7

An Edomite] By nation, but by profession a Proselite Detayned] Within the Court of the Tabernacle which was in Nob, by some vow, or some expresse devotion. Nehemiah 6:10 as contrarywise there were some detainments, which did exclude men out of the Temple, Jeremy, Chapter 36. verse 5.

1 Samuel 21:9

Behind the] That is to say behind that holy place, where the sacred vestures, and holy ornaments were laid up, of which the Ephod was the chiefest. Exodus, Chapter the 28. and verse the 4. 6.

1 Samuel 21:11

King] That is to say, he that is in as great esteem as the King; and is followed in the wars, and comands as the King: or peradventure the Philistims had heard something of Davids being destinated to be King.

1 Samuel 21:12

Laid up] Weighed them; and did deliberately think upon them.

1 Samuel 21:13

In their hands] Being taken by them to be brought to Achish, Psalms 56:1.