And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been 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.
These three days - as required by law (Exodus 19:15). David and his attendants seem to have been during this interval lurking in some of the adjoining caves to avoid pursuit, and to have been consequently reduced to great extremities of hunger. Dean Stanley (Smith's 'Dictionary,' article 'David') says, that 'the young men spoken of were imaginary. He was alone.' This is directly at variance with the testimony of our Lord in the passages referred to, as well as with the answer of the high priest (1 Samuel 21:4), which implies that David had informed him of the retinue he had with him, though they were not priests.
The bread is in a manner common - i:e., 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 - i:e., though the hallowed bread had been but newly placed on the vessel, the ritual ordinance would have to yield to the great law of necessity and mercy (see the notes at Matthew 12:3; Mark 2:25; Luke 6:3).