VERS. III.

FOR those words of Ahimelech are to be understood comparatively, Wherefore art thou alone, and no man with thee? that is, comparatively to that noble train where∣with thou wast wont to go attended, and which becomes the Captain General of Is∣rael. David came to Nob, not as one that fled, but as one that come to enquire at Page  186 the Oracle, concerning the event of War, unto which he pretended to come by the Kings command. Dissembling therefore that he hastned to the war, or to expedite some warlike design, he dissembles likewise, that he sent his Army to a certain place, and that he had turned aside thither to worship God, and to enquire of the event; that he had brought but a very few of his most trusty servants along with him, for whom being an hungred he asketh a few loaves.

Here hearken to Kimchi producing the opinion of the Antients concerning this story, in these words: Our Rabbins of blessed memory say, that he gave him the Shew bread, &c. The interpretation also of the clause.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Yea though it were sancti∣fied this day in the vessel, is this; It is a small thing to say that it is lawful for us to eat these loaves taken from before the Lord, when we are hungry; for it would be lawful to eat this very loaf which is now set on, which is also sanctified in the vessel, (for the Table sanctifieth) it would be lawful to eat even this when another loaf is not present with you to give us, and we are so hunger bitten. And a little after, There is nothing which may hin∣der taking care of Life, beside Idolatry, Adultery and Murder.

These words do excellently agree with the force of our Saviours Argument, but with the genuine sense of that Clause, methinks, they do not well agree. I should, under cor∣rection, render it otherwise, only prefacing this before hand, That it is no improbable conjecture that David came to Nob either on the Sabbath it self, or when the Sabbath was but newly gone. kFor the shewbread was not to be eaten unless for one day and one night, that is, on the Sabbath and the going out of the Sabbath; David therefore came thither in the going out of the Sabbath. And now I render Davids words thus, Women have been kept from us these three days, (so that there is no uncleaness with us from the touch of a men∣struous woman) and the vessels of the young men were holy, even in the common way (that is, while we travelled in the common manner and journey) therefore much more are they holy, as to their vessels, this (Sabbath) day. And to this sense perhaps does that come. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉But there was there one of the Servants of Saul detained that day before the Lord. The reverence of the Sabbath had brought him to worship and as yet had detained him there.