David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us as usual these three days. When I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was only a common journey. How much more then today shall their vessels be holy?”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 5. Vessels, that is the bodies, have been holy; that is, have been kept from impurity: ( Ch). in which sense Saint Paul uses the word. 1 Thessalonians 4:4. It also includes garments, arms, and so forth All was to be clean. Septuagint “my men are all purified.” Calmet.—Defiled. Is liable to expose us to dangers of uncleanness, ( Ch). as we shall perhaps have to fight. Bible.—Sanctified. That is, we shall take care, notwithstanding these dangerous circumstances, to keep our vessels holy; that is, keep our bodies from every thing that may defile us. Challoner.—The text is very obscure. Hebrew “the way is impure, because to-day it shall be purified in the vessel.” Calmet.—Prot. “and the bread is in a manner common, yea though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.” We might eat of it in a case of such necessity. Bible.—Though laics be commonly debarred from tasting of it, we will partake of it with all due respect. Calmet.—Septuagint “the journey is (of a disagreeable nature, or) impure, therefore it will be rendered holy by my vessels,” or arms, in the king’s cause. Bible.—He seems to be going towards the infidel nations. Menochius.