1 Samuel 20:26

Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:24-34 None were more constant than David in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent, but self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In great peril present opportunities for Divine ordinances may be waved. But it is bad for us, except in case of necessity, to omit any opportunity of statedly attending on them. Jonathan did wisely and well for himself and family, to secure an interest in David, yet for this he is blamed. It is good to take God's people for our people. It will prove to our advantage at last, however it may now be thought against our interest. Saul was outrageous. What savage beasts, and worse, does anger make men!

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He is not clean - The new moon being a religious feast, and the meat to be eaten being peace-offerings, no one could assist at the feast who had any ceremonial uncleanness upon him (marginal references).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

26. he is not clean—No notice was taken of David's absence, as he might be laboring under some ceremonial defilement.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Something hath befallen; some accident which hath rendered him unclean, and so unfit to partake of this feast, which consisted in part of the remainders of these peace-offerings, according to the law, Leviticus 7:20; unfit also to come into any company, much more into the king’s company, lest he should pollute them also. See Poole "1 Samuel 20:5". See also Le 11 Le 15.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Nevertheless, Saul spake not anything that day,.... About David's absence, took no notice of it, said nothing about it:

for he thought something had befallen him; some impurity, some nocturnal pollution, see Leviticus 15:16,

he is not clean, surely he is not clean; which he repeated in his mind for the confirmation of it, and in contempt, and to the reproach of David; and in this way he accounted for his absence the first day, and so was easy, it not being lawful and fitting for an unclean person in a ceremonial sense to eat of the peace offerings, which Saul and his family were now partaking of.

Geneva Study Bible

Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not {k} clean; surely he is not clean.

(k) Yet he might have some business to let him.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

26. he is not clean] Persons who were ceremonially unclean were peremptorily excluded from participating in a religious festival. See Leviticus 7:20-21; 1 Samuel 16:5.

1 Samuel 20:26

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

On this (first) day Saul said nothing, sc., about David's absenting himself, "for he thought there has (something) happened to him, that he is not clean; surely (כּי) he is not clean" (vid., Leviticus 15:16.; Deuteronomy 23:11).