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.
Ver. 4. There is no common bread under mine hand.] He kept house at Anathoth, where doubtless he had common bread; but David's haste called for present supply.
If the young men have kept themselves at least from women.] From companying with their wives; which, though lawful enough, Heb 13:4 yet through men's corruption, it sometimes is not without sin; and some legal uncleanness was contracted by it. See Leviticus 15:18 Exodus 19:15. Howbeit this was not a sufficient impediment to David and his followers in this necessity: and therefore Jerome saith that this was a ridiculous and preposterous objection.