The loaves of bread which the officiating priest placed every sabbath day upon the golden table in the Sanctum, before the Lord, were twelve in number, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The loaves must have been large, since two tenth deals - about six pintsof flour were used for each, Lev 24:3, Lev 24:6, Lev 24:7. They were served up hot on the sabbath day in the Sanctum, when the stale ones, which had been exposed the whole week, were taken away, and none but the priests were allowed to eat them. In an extraordinary extremity, David and his men partook of the shew-bread - see note on 1Sa 21:6, the urgent necessity alone justifying the act. The Hebrew signifies bread of faces, or, of the face. Exo 25:30, Exo 40:23, 1Ki 18:31, 1Sa 21:4, 1Sa 21:5, Mat 12:4, Act 26:7, Jam 1:1 Reciprocal: Exo 24:4 - according Exo 25:29 - to cover Exo 35:13 - General Exo 40:4 - the things that Lev 5:15 - in the Num 4:7 - the table 1Ki 7:48 - the table 1Ch 9:32 - to 1Ch 23:29 - for the showbread 2Ch 2:4 - the continual 2Ch 4:19 - the tables 2Ch 13:11 - showbread Neh 10:33 - the showbread Mat 19:28 - the twelve Mar 2:26 - which is not lawful Luk 6:4 - which Heb 9:2 - the table