vessels = wallets. Compare 1 Samuel 17:40 . Word not used in O.T. in the N.T. sense of 2 Timothy 2:21 . 1 Thessalonians 4:4 , &. c. holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . Compare "hallowed", 1 Samuel 21:4 . yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel = and the more so, when to-day [there are other loaves] to be hallowed in respect of their vessels, read more
1 Samuel 21:4. The priest answered—There is no common bread, &c.— Cases of necessity, as the Jews themselves allow, often superseded the observation of the ritual laws; and this compliance of Ahimelech's is urged with great force by our Saviour, in vindication of a similar case, Mar 2:25 to which place we shall refer for more upon the subject, and for a solution of the difficulties arising from the different names. read more
1 Samuel 21:5. And the vessels of the young men— i.e. their bodies; see 1 Thessalonians 4:4. Houbigant renders this verse, David answered the priest, We have indeed been absent from our wives these three days, since I came out; and the vessels of the young men are holy. But if any uncleanness had happened by the way, on this very day their vessels are clean; rightly observing, that the word כלי kelei, rendered vessels, cannot with any propriety be understood of the bodies of the young men in... read more
4. there is hallowed bread—There would be plenty of bread in his house; but there was no time to wait for it. "The hallowed bread" was the old shew-bread, which had been removed the previous day, and which was reserved for the use of the priests alone (Leviticus 24:9). Before entertaining the idea that this bread could be lawfully given to David and his men, the high priest seems to have consulted the oracle (1 Samuel 22:10) as to the course to be followed in this emergency. A dispensation to... read more
5. these three days—as required by law (Exodus 19:15). David and his attendants seem to have been lurking in some of the adjoining caves, to elude pursuit, and to have been, consequently, reduced to great extremities of hunger. the bread is in a manner common—that is, now that it is no longer standing on the Lord's table. It is eaten by the priests, and may also, in our circumstances, be eaten by us. yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel—that is, though the hallowed bread had... read more
David’s flight to Nob 21:1-9Nob stood one and one-half miles northeast of Jerusalem and two and one-half miles southeast of Gibeah. It stood on what is now called Mt. Scopus. There Ahimelech served as high priest. Priestly activity, and evidently the tabernacle, were now there (cf. 1 Samuel 17:54). It is significant that David’s first place of refuge was among God’s chosen representatives on earth. He wanted to get help from the Lord through them (cf. 1 Samuel 22:10) as he had done in the past... read more
1. David’s initial movements chs. 21-22"The two chapters comprise a literary unit of three sections arranged in chiastic order. Chapters 1 Samuel 21:1-9 and 1 Samuel 22:6-23 are concerned with the priestly compound at Nob in Benjamin while the central section (1 Samuel 21:10 to 1 Samuel 22:5) summarizes David’s flight to Gath in Philistia, Adullam in Judah, and Mizpah in Moab." [Note: Youngblood, p. 727.] read more
The Flight of DavidDavid first of all flees to Nob, where Ahimelech supplies him with food and gives him the sword of Goliath. He next takes refuge with Achish at Gath.1. Nob] see on 1 Samuel 17:54. Alone] He had no escort or retinue.3. Better, ’Now, therefore, what is under thine hand? Five loaves? Give them into mine hand.’4. Hallowed bread] i.e. the shewbread. It was removed every sabbath and fresh loaves substituted.5. Better, ’of a truth women have been kept from us as is usual, when I go... read more
(4) There is no common bread.—The condition of the priests in these days of Saul was evidently a pitiable one. The terrible massacre related in the next chapter seems not to have excited the wail of indignation and woe which such a wholesale murder of the priests of the living God should naturally have called out from the entire people. They were evidently held in little esteem, and their murder was regarded at the time, not as an awful act of sacrilege, but simply as an act of political... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 21:4
common : i.e. or unhallowed. hallowed = holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . kept . And thus ceremonially clean, to eat such bread. read more