Text -- 1 Samuel 20:16-42 (NET)

20:16 and called David’s enemies to account.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. 20:17 Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life. 20:18 Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will be empty. 20:19 On the third day you should go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself the day this all started. Stay near the stone Ezel. 20:20 I will shoot three arrows near it, as though I were shooting at a target. 20:21 When I send a boy after them, I will say, “Go and find the arrows.” If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them,’ then come back. For as surely as the Lord lives, you will be safe and there will no problem. 20:22 But if I say to the boy, “Look, the arrows are on the other side of you,’ get away. For in that case the Lord has sent you away. 20:23 With regard to the matter that you and I discussed, the Lord is the witness between us forever!” 20:24 So David hid in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat his meal. 20:25 The king sat down in his usual place by the wall, with Jonathan opposite him and Abner at his side. But David’s place was vacant. 20:26 However, Saul said nothing about it that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to make him ceremonially unclean. Yes, he must be unclean.” 20:27 But the next morning, the second day of the new moon, David’s place was still vacant. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why has Jesse’s son not come to the meal yesterday or today?” 20:28 Jonathan replied to Saul, “David urgently requested that he be allowed to go to Bethlehem. 20:29 He said, ‘Permit me to go, for we are having a family sacrifice in the city, and my brother urged me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go to see my brothers.’ For that reason he has not come to the king’s table.” 20:30 Saul became angry with Jonathan and said to him, “You stupid traitor! Don’t I realize that to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother’s nakedness you have chosen this son of Jesse? 20:31 For as long as this son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now, send some men and bring him to me. For he is as good as dead!” 20:32 Jonathan responded to his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 20:33 Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan in order to strike him down. So Jonathan was convinced that his father had decided to kill David. 20:34 Jonathan got up from the table enraged. He did not eat any food on that second day of the new moon, for he was upset that his father had humiliated David. 20:35 The next morning Jonathan, along with a young servant, went out to the field to meet David. 20:36 He said to his servant, “Run, find the arrows that I am about to shoot.” As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him. 20:37 When the servant came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called out to the servant, “Isn’t the arrow further beyond you?” 20:38 Jonathan called out to the servant, “Hurry! Go faster! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s servant retrieved the arrow and came back to his master. 20:39 (Now the servant did not understand any of this. Only Jonathan and David knew what was going on.) 20:40 Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant who was with him. He said to him, “Go, take these things back to the city.” 20:41 When the servant had left, David got up from beside the mound, knelt with his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and they both wept, especially David.

David Goes to Nob

20:42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn together in the name of the Lord saying, ‘The Lord will be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’” Then David got up and left, while Jonathan went back to the city.

Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: 1Sa 20:16

The covenant which before was personal, he now extends to the whole house of David, expecting a reciprocal enlargement of it on David's side, which doubtless he obtained.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:16

If either I or any of my house shall break this covenant, and shall prove enemies to David or to his house, let the Lord, the witness of this covenant, severely punish the violators of it.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:17

Heb. and Jonathan added or proceeded to make David swear; that is, having himself sworn to David or adjured David, in the foregoing verse, he here requires David's oath to him, by way of restipulation or confirmation.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:17

Because he had a true friendship for David, he desired that the covenant might be inviolably observed through all their generations.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:19

When this same business which now they were treating about, was in agitation formerly; namely, to discover Saul's mind and purpose towards him, 1Sa 19:2-3.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:19

By that stone which directs travellers in the way; namely, in some cave, or convenient place, which was near it.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:21

I will send him out before I shoot, to find out, and take up the arrows which I shall shoot. And I shall shoot them either short of him, or beyond him, as I shall see occasion.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:23

As a witness and a judge between us and our families for ever, if on either side this league of friendship be violated.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:24

Namely, at the time appointed: for it seems probable, that he went first to Bethlehem, and thence returned to the field, when the occasion required.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:25

He rose from his seat where he was sat next the king, and stood at Abner's coming, to do honour to him, who was his father's cousin, and the general of the army.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:26

Some accident which has rendered him unclean, and so unfit to partake of this feast, which consisted in part of the remainders of the peace-offerings, according to the law, Lev 7:20. Unfit also to come into any company, much more, into the king's company, lest he should pollute them also.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:27

So he calls him in scorn, to note the meanness of his original; and as not deigning to call him by his proper name.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:27

For the uncleanness which came by some chance, usually lasted but for one day.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:30

Men will conclude that thou hast no royal blood in thy veins, that canst so tamely give up thy crown to so contemptible a person.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:33

Saul seemed to be in great care, that Jonathan should be established in his kingdom: and now he himself aims at his life! What fools, what worse than savage beasts does anger make.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:37

That is, near the place. For the words following shew, that he was not yet come thither.

Wesley: 1Sa 20:40

His bow, and arrows, and quiver.

JFB: 1Sa 20:19

Either with your family at Beth-lehem, or wherever you find it convenient.

JFB: 1Sa 20:19

Hebrew, "in the day," or "time of the business," when the same matter was under inquiry formerly (1Sa 19:22).

JFB: 1Sa 20:19

Hebrew, "the stone of the way"; a sort of milestone which directed travellers. He was to conceal himself in some cave or hiding-place near that spot.

JFB: 1Sa 20:23

The plan being concerted, the friends separated for a time, and the amiable character of Jonathan again peers out in his parting allusion to their covenant of friendship.

JFB: 1Sa 20:25

The left-hand corner at the upper end of a room was and still is in the East, the most honorable place. The person seated there has his left arm confined by the wall, but his right hand is at full liberty. From Abner's position next the king, and David's seat being left empty, it would seem that a state etiquette was observed at the royal table, each of the courtiers and ministers having places assigned them according to their respective gradations of rank.

JFB: 1Sa 20:25

Either as a mark of respect on the entrance of the king, or in conformity with the usual Oriental custom for a son to stand in presence of his father.

JFB: 1Sa 20:26

No notice was taken of David's absence, as he might be laboring under some ceremonial defilement.

JFB: 1Sa 20:27

The time of the moon's appearance being uncertain--whether at midday, in the evening, or at midnight, the festival was extended over two days. Custom, not the law, had introduced this.

JFB: 1Sa 20:27

The question was asked, as it were, casually, and with as great an air of indifference as he could assume. And Jonathan having replied that David had asked and obtained his permission to attend a family anniversary at Beth-lehem [Act 20:28-29], the pent-up passions of the king burst out in a most violent storm of rage and invective against his son.

JFB: 1Sa 20:30

This is a striking Oriental form of abuse. Saul was not angry with his wife; it was the son alone, upon whom he meant, by this style of address, to discharge his resentment. The principle on which it is founded seems to be, that to a genuine filial instinct it is a more inexpiable offense to hear the name or character of a parent traduced, than any personal reproach. This was, undoubtedly, one cause of "the fierce anger" in which the high-minded prince left the table without tasting a morsel.

JFB: 1Sa 20:33

This is a sad proof of the maniacal frenzy into which the unhappy monarch was transported.

JFB: 1Sa 20:35

Or, "at the place appointed."

JFB: 1Sa 20:36

The direction given aloud to the attendant was the signal preconcerted with David. It implied danger.

JFB: 1Sa 20:40

That is, his missive weapons. The French word artillerie, signifies "archery." The term is still used in England, in the designation of the "artillery company of London," the association of archers, though they have long disused bows and arrows. Jonathan's boy being despatched out of the way, the friends enjoyed the satisfaction of a final meeting.

JFB: 1Sa 20:41-42

A token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the purest brotherly affection.

JFB: 1Sa 20:42

The interview being a stolen one, and every moment precious, it was kindness in Jonathan to hasten his friend's departure.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:20

I will shoot three arrows - Jonathan intended that David should stay at the stone Ezel, where probably there was some kind of cave, or hiding place; that, to prevent all suspicion, he would not go to him himself, but take his servant into the fields, and pretend to be exercising himself in archery; that he would shoot three arrows, the better to cover his design; and that, if he should say to his servant, who went to bring back the arrows, "The arrows are on this side of thee,"this should be a sign to David that he might safely return to court, no evil being designed; but if he should say, "The arrows are beyond thee,"then David should escape for his life, Saul having determined his destruction.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:25

The king sat upon his seat - It seems that there was one table for Saul, Jonathan, David, and Abner; Saul having the chief seat, that next to the wall. As only four sat at this table, the absence of any one would soon be noticed.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:29

Our family hath a sacrifice - Such sacrifices were undoubtedly festal ones; the beasts slain for the occasion were first offered to God, and their blood poured out before him; afterwards all that were bidden to the feast ate of the flesh. This was a family entertainment, at the commencement of which God was peculiarly honored.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:30

Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman - This clause is variously translated and understood. The Hebrew might be translated, Son of an unjust rebellion; that is, "Thou art a rebel against thy own father."The Vulgate, Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis ; "Son of the woman who, of her own accord, forces the man."The Septuagint is equally curious, Υἱε κορασιων αυτομολουντων ; "Son of the damsels who came of their own accord."Were these the meaning of the Hebrew, then the bitter reflection must refer to some secret transaction between Saul and Jonathan’ s mother; which certainly reflects more dishonor on himself than on his brave son. Most sarcasms bear as hard upon the speaker, as they do on him against whom they are spoken. Abusive language always argues a mean, weak, and malevolent heart.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:34

Jonathan arose - in fierce anger - We should probably understand this rather of Jonathan’ s grief than of his anger, the latter clause explaining the former: for he was grieved for David. He was grieved for his father - he was grieved for his friend.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:38

Make speed, haste, stay not - Though these words appear to be addressed to the lad, yet they were spoken to David, indicating that his life was at stake, and only a prompt flight could save him.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:40

Jonathan gave his artillery - I believe this to be the only place in our language where the word artillery is not applied to cannon or ordnance. The original ( כלי keley ) signifies simply instruments, and here means the bow, quiver, and arrows.

Clarke: 1Sa 20:41

Until David exceeded - David’ s distress must, in the nature of things, be the greatest. Besides his friend Jonathan, whom he was now about to lose for ever, he lost his wife, relatives, country; and, what was most afflictive, the altars of his God, and the ordinances of religion

Saul saw David’ s growing popularity, and was convinced of his own maladministration. He did not humble himself before God, and therefore became a prey to envy, pride, jealousy, cruelty, and every other malevolent temper. From him David had every thing to fear, and therefore he thought it was safer to yield to the storm, than attempt to brave it; though he could have even raised a very powerful party in Israel, had he used the means which were so much in his power. But as he neither sought not affected the kingdom, he left it to the providence of God to bring him in by such means, at such a way, and in such a time, as was most suited to his godly wisdom. He that believeth shall not make haste: God’ s way and time are ever the best; and he who, even in God’ s way, runs before he is sent, runs at random; runs without light, and without Divine strength

Feeble, therefore, must be his own might, his own counsel, and his own wisdom: though he encompass himself with his own sparks yet this hath he at the Lord’ s hand - he shalt lie down in sorrow.

TSK: 1Sa 20:16

made : Heb. cut, 1Sa 18:3; Gen 15:18

Let the Lord : 1Sa 25:22, 1Sa 31:2; 2Sa 4:7, 2Sa 4:8, 2Sa 21:8

TSK: 1Sa 20:17

because he loved him : or, by his love toward him

for he loved : 1Sa 18:1, 1Sa 18:3; Deu 13:6; 2Sa 1:26; Pro 18:24

TSK: 1Sa 20:18

new moon : 1Sa 20:5

and thou shalt : Among the forms of salutation and compliment used in Persia, one was, according to my mode of notation in italics, Ja i shama khali bud pish yaran , signifying, Thy place or seat was empty among thy friends. This phrase, or the greater part of it, was frequently addressed to myself when coming into a circle of Persian acquaintances, after an absence of several days or weeks. It reminded me of a passage in the First book of Samuel (1Sa 20:18). And thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And again, David’ s place was empty."" Sir W. Ouseley’ s Travels , vol i. preface, p.16.

empty : Heb. missed

TSK: 1Sa 20:19

quickly : or, diligently, Heb. greatly

hide thyself : 1Sa 20:5, 1Sa 19:2

when the business : Heb. in the day of the business

Ezel : or, that sheweth the way.

TSK: 1Sa 20:21

no : Heb. not any thing

as the : Jer 4:2, Jer 5:2, Jer 12:16; Amo 8:14

TSK: 1Sa 20:23

the matter : 1Sa 20:14, 1Sa 20:15

the Lord : 1Sa 20:42; Gen 16:5, Gen 31:50

TSK: 1Sa 20:24

the king : Psa 50:16-21; Pro 4:17, Pro 15:17, Pro 17:1, Pro 21:3, Pro 21:27; Isa 1:11-15; Zec 7:6; Joh 18:28

TSK: 1Sa 20:25

as at other times : Jdg 16:20

TSK: 1Sa 20:26

he is not clean : Lev 7:21, Lev 11:24, Lev 11:27, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:40, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:16, Lev 15:17, Lev 15:19-21; Num 19:16

TSK: 1Sa 20:27

Wherefore : 1Sa 18:11, 1Sa 19:9, 1Sa 19:10, 1Sa 19:15

the son : 1Sa 22:7-9, 1Sa 22:13, 1Sa 22:14, 1Sa 25:10; Isa 11:1, Isa 11:2; Mat 13:55; 1Pe 2:4

TSK: 1Sa 20:28

1Sa 20:6

TSK: 1Sa 20:29

my brother : 1Sa 17:28

TSK: 1Sa 20:30

Saul’ s : Job 5:2; Pro 14:29, Pro 19:12, Pro 19:19, Pro 21:24, Pro 25:28, Pro 27:3; Jam 1:19, Jam 1:20

Thou : etc. or, Thou perverse rebel, Heb. Son of perverse rebellion, Pro 15:2, Pro 21:24; Mat 5:22; Eph 4:31, Eph 6:4

and unto the : This reflection on the mother of Jonathan, by the passionate monarch, reflects more dishonour on himself than on his brave and noble minded son. Mungo Park gives an instance of the prevalence of the same principles in Africa; for he says, ""Maternal affection is every where conspicuous among the Africans, and creates a correspondent return of tenderness in the child. ‘ Strike me,’ said my attendant, ‘ but do not curse my mother.’ I found the same sentiment to prevail universally in all parts of Africa.""King Saul, unable to villify Jonathan to his own satisfaction by personal reproaches, outstepped the ordinary abuse of his day, and proceeded to that which was designed to produce unusual vexation, and vented the bitterness of his mind by maligning the character of his own wife and Jonathan’ s mother.

TSK: 1Sa 20:31

send : 1Sa 20:8, 1Sa 19:6, 1Sa 19:11-15

shall surely die : Heb. is the son of death, 1Sa 26:16; 2Sa 19:28; Psa 79:11 *marg.

TSK: 1Sa 20:32

Wherefore : 1Sa 19:5; Pro 24:11, Pro 24:12, Pro 31:8, Pro 31:9; Joh 7:51

what hath : Mat 27:23; Luk 23:22, cast, 1Sa 18:11, 1Sa 19:10, 1Sa 19:11; Pro 22:24; Ecc 9:3; Jer 17:9, whereby, 1Sa 20:7; Ecc 7:9

TSK: 1Sa 20:34

in fierce : Ecc 7:20; Eph 4:26

he was grieved : Mar 3:5

TSK: 1Sa 20:35

at the time : 1Sa 20:19; 2Sa 20:5

TSK: 1Sa 20:36

Run : 1Sa 20:20, 1Sa 20:21

beyond him : Heb. to pass over him, 1Sa 20:21, 1Sa 20:22

TSK: 1Sa 20:38

Psa 55:6-9; Pro 6:4, Pro 6:5; Mat 24:16-18; Mar 13:14-16; Luk 17:31, Luk 17:32

TSK: 1Sa 20:40

artillery : Heb. instruments, Rather weapons, as the word kelim also denotes; and here means the bow, quiver, and arrows. This is probably the only place in our language in which the word artillery is not applied to cannon or ordinance, but simply to weapons of war.

his lad : Heb. the lad that was his

TSK: 1Sa 20:41

and fell : 1Sa 25:23; Gen 43:28; 2Sa 9:6

and they kissed : 1Sa 10:1; Gen 29:11, Gen 29:13, Gen 45:15; 2Sa 19:39; Act 20:37

David exceeded : 1Sa 18:3; 2Sa 1:26

TSK: 1Sa 20:42

Go in peace : 1Sa 20:22, 1Sa 1:17; Num 6:26; Luk 7:50; Act 16:36

forasmuch as : or, the Lord be witness of that which, etc. 1Sa 20:23

And he arose : 1Sa 23:18; The separation of two such faithful friends was equally grievous to them both, but David’ s case was the more deplorablecaps1 . fcaps0 or when Jonathan was returning to his family and friends, David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God’ s sanctuary, and therefore his grief exceeded Jonathan’ s; or, perhaps it was because his temper was more tender and his passions stronger. They referred each other to the covenant of friendship that was between them, both of them being comforted thereby in this very mournful separation - ""We have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, for ourselves and our heirs, that we and they will be faithful and kind to each other from generation to generation.""

Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Sa 20:19

The stone Ezel - It is not mentioned elsewhere, except possibly in 1Sa 20:41, where see the note.

Barnes: 1Sa 20:26

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).

Barnes: 1Sa 20:30

The greatest insult and most stinging reproach that can be cast upon an Oriental is to reproach his parents or ancestors (see Job 30:8). Saul means to intimate that Jonathan was stubborn from his mother’ s womb.

Barnes: 1Sa 20:41

A place toward the south - An unintelligible description; one expects a repetition of the description of David’ s hiding-place in 1Sa 20:19. The Septuagint in both places has "argab,"a word meaning a "heap of stones."If this be the true reading, David’ s hiding-place was either a natural cavernous rock which was called "Argab,"or some ruin of an ancient building, equally suited for a hiding-place.

Bowed himself three times - In token, doubtless, of his unshaken loyalty to Jonathan as the son of his king, as well as his friend; and in acknowledgment of Jonathan’ s power to kill him if he saw fit. (Compare Gen 33:3).

David exceeded - His affection for Jonathan, coupled with his sense of Saul’ s injustice and his own injured innocence, fully accounts for his strong emotion.

Barnes: 1Sa 20:42

Jonathan went into the city - From which one may infer, what the after history also indicates, that Jonathan’ s filial duty and patriotism prevented a complete rupture with his father. Jonathan’ s conduct in this, as in everything, was most admirable.

Poole: 1Sa 20:16

The covenant which before was personal, he now extends to the whole house of David, expecting a reciprocal enlargement of it on David’ s side, which doubtless he obtained.

Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’ s enemies if either I or any of my house shall break this covenant, and shall prove enemies to David, or to his house, let the Lord, the witness of this covenant, severely punish the violators of it, whoever they are. Others thus, Let the Lord require and punish the breach of this covenant in David, if he break it. But because it was ominous and reproachful to suppose such a thing of David, by a figure called euphemismus , he names David’ s enemies for David; as they also expound 1Sa 25:22 . But the former sense seems more probable, because this verse contains only Jonathan’ s stipulation or covenant with David and his house, which being expressed in the former part of it, is in this latter part confirmed by the usual form of imprecation; and the restipulation or covenant of David to Jonathan and his house is mentioned in the next verse. Yet may that other sense stand well enough; taking these words for Jonathan’ s adjuration of David to be kind to him, confirmed with an imprecation in case he do otherwise; as if he should say, I adjure thee, as thou hopest to escape such a mischief, (which I had rather might befall thine enemies than thee,) that thou deal not so ungratefully with me or my house: which adjuration of Jonathan David seconds by an oath in the next verse, at the request of Jonathan.

Poole: 1Sa 20:17

Heb. And Jonathan added or proceeded to make David swear, i.e. having himself sworn to David, or adjured David, in the foregoing verse, he here requires David’ s oath to him, by way of restipulation or confirmation.

Because he loved him because he had a true friendship for David, he desired that the covenant might be inviolably observed through all their generations.

Poole: 1Sa 20:18

Thy seat i.e. the place where David used to sit at meals with Saul. See 1Sa 20:25 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:19

When thou hast stayed three days either at Bethlehem with thy friends, 1Sa 20:6 , or elsewhere, as thou shalt see fit.

When the business was in hand Heb. in the day of business ; or, of the business . And these words are to be joined, either,

1. With the words next foregoing; and so they note the time when David hid himself there; which was, when this same business which now they were treating about was in agitation formerly, to wit, to discover Saul’ s mind and purpose towards him, 1Sa 19:2,3 . Or,

2. With the more remote words; and so they note the time when David should come to the place appointed, and formerly used to hide himself in, upon a like occasion, to wit, in the day when the business here spoken of was to be done, i.e. when the discovery of Saul’ s mind was to be made.

By the stone Ezel or, by the stone of going , or travelling , i.e. by that stone which directs travellers in the way, to wit, in some cave, or convenient place, which was near that stone.

Poole: 1Sa 20:20

He chose this way to avoid Saul’ s suspicion, because bows and arrows were the principal arms of those times; and Jonathan, as well as others, did oft go forth to exercise himself with them, both for recreation, and improvement of his skill in that art. Besides, he knew not that he should have any opportunity of private converse with David, by reason of passengers, though the event proved better than he expected.

Poole: 1Sa 20:21

I will send him out before I shoot, to find out and take up the arrows which I shall shoot. And I shall shoot them either short of him, or beyond him, as I shall see occasion.

Poole: 1Sa 20:22

Take this for an intimation of God’ s providence, that thou shouldst keep away from the court.

Poole: 1Sa 20:24

David hid himself to wit, at the time appointed; for it seems probable that he went first to Bethlehem, as he bade Jonathan tell his father, 1Sa 20:6 , and thence returned to the field, when the occasion required; else we must charge him with a downright lie, which ought not to be imagined (without any apparent cause) concerning so good a man, especially in so distressed and dangerous a condition. And why should he hide himself there so long before the time when Jonathan was to come thither to inform him? Nor were there any need of appointing a certain time to meet, if David were there all the while.

Poole: 1Sa 20:25

Jonathan arose to wit, from his seat where he was sat next to the king, whence he arose, and stood up at Abner’ s coming, to do honour to him, who was his father’ s cousin, and the general of the army. David’ s place seems to have been next to Abner, on the same side with him.

Poole: 1Sa 20:26

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, Lev 7:20 ; unfit also to come into any company, much more into the king’ s company, lest he should pollute them also. See Poole "1Sa 20:5" . See also Le 11 Le 15 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:27

Which was the second day of the month or, on the morrow of the new moon, being the second day; either,

1. Of the three days appointed, 1Sa 20:5,19 . Or,

2. Of the feast. Or,

3. Of the month. Saul said unto Jonathan, who was David’ s friend, and best knew his mind and his ways. He calls him the son of Jesse, in scorn and contempt, to note the meanness of his original; and as not deigning to call him by his proper name: see below, 1Sa 22:9 25:10 .

Neither yesterday, nor to-day for the uncleanness which came by some chance usually lasted but for one day. See Le 11 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:29

He hath commanded me to be there either in his father’ s name, or in the right of the first-born; one branch of which was authority over his brethren in all the concerns of the family; whereof this was one.

Poole: 1Sa 20:30

Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman this base temper of thine thou hast not from me, but from thy mother; of whose perverseness I have had so much experience. Or,

thou son of perverse rebellion i.e. thou perverse and rebellious son. Or, thou most perverse rebel; for in the Hebrew language, the word

son thus used, is an aggravation of a man’ s crime, and notes one who is extraordinarily addicted to it. Thus he calls him, because he hid and preserved that man whom the king had commanded to be brought forth, that he might be slain.

To thine own confusion for it will be a horrible shame and reproach unto thee, that David by his crafty insinuations, and fair pretences, should cheat thee of thy kingdom. To the confusion of thy mother’ s nakedness; men will conclude, that thy mother was a whore, and thou a bastard; and that thou hast no royal blood in thy veins, that canst so tamely give up thy crown to so contemptible a person.

Poole: 1Sa 20:31

Thus he grossly mistakes the cause of Jonathan’ s loss of the kingdom, which was not David’ s art, but Saul’ s sin; and vainly endeavours to prevent God’ s irrevocable sentence.

Poole: 1Sa 20:33

To smite him i. e. to wound him, though not to smite him even to the wall, as he designed to do to David, 1Sa 19:10 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:34

Or, and because ; for this is a second cause of his grief. The conjunction and is ofttimes omitted, and to be supplied; as Psa 33:2 144:9 Hab 3:11 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:35

In the morning to wit, of the third day, appointed, for this work, 1Sa 20:5 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:37

To the place i.e. near to the place. Or, and the lad went , or was going on to the place ; for the words following show the he was not yet come thither. The Hebrew verb bo , which properly signifies to come , sometimes signifies to go ; as here, and Rth 3:7 Jon 1:3 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:38

Haste, stay not so he bids him, because finding the coast clear, he made haste to take the opportunity-to speak with his dearly beloved David.

Poole: 1Sa 20:40

His artillery his bow, and arrows, and quiver.

Poole: 1Sa 20:41

Toward the south in respect of the stone where David by appointment hid himself.

Until David exceeded as well he might, because he was driven away, not only from his dear friend Jonathan, but also from his wife, and all his relations, and from the commonwealth of israel, and from the service of God; as he complains below, 1Sa 26:19 .

Poole: 1Sa 20:42

We have sworn both of us therefore doubt not but I will ever love thee, and faithfully serve thee; and the like I assure myself from thee; and this must be our comfort in our state of separation.

Haydock: 1Sa 20:16

Enemies. This seems to be a second translation of the former sentence, with a small variation. ---

Required may be expressed in the future, as an imprecation made by the two friends against those who should attempt to break the covenant, or to oppose David's reign. Septuagint omit this verse entirely, and translate the following, ( 17 ) "and Jonathan continued to swear to David, inasmuch as he loved him, because he loved the soul of the man who loved him." He had such an affection for David, that he extended his love to all his friends. Protestants, "so Jonathan made a covenant with....David, saying: Let the Lord even require it at," &c. (Haydock) ---

He did so in due time, and the covenant between these two had its effect. (Calmet)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:19

Morrow. Hebrew, "and after three days (Haydock; or, on the third day) thou shalt," &c. Syriac and Arabic, "Thou wilt be called for at table, at the third hour." (Calmet) ---

Septuagint use the same word, Greek: trioseuseis, as in the following verse: "I will shoot thrice at wild beasts, with arrows, sending as far as Laarmattarai," so here they may insinuate that David must "wait three days," (Haydock) or come on each of these days, that he may not slip an opportunity. (Cajetan) ---

Work. Le Clerc translates, "in the day of the business." Protestants, "where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel." Alexandrian Septuagint, "by this affair." Vatican [Septuagint], " Ergab, " a word which Grabe admits instead of Greek: ergon, in his edition. (Haydock) ---

Other copies, with the Syriac and Arabic, have simply, "near this stone," which Junius styles speculam, as if it were a butt or landmark, (Calmet) or a stone to shew the road, (Lyranus) or mile-stone, (Tirinus) which latter supposition is not probable, as David desired to be concealed. (Menochius) ---

He would therefore choose some cavern, so as to be able to hear what Jonathan said, without being seen. (Haydock) ---

this precaution was necessary for the safety of both. (Menochius)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:23

Ever. Let us always inviolably adhere to our covenant. (Haydock)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:25

Arose, out of respect. Septuagint, "he had the precedence over Jonathan" alone, as the latter sat "on the king's right hand, and Abner on the left," Arabic. (Calmet) ---

David's place was after Abner. (Menochius)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:26

Purified, having perhaps touched some dead body, &c., Leviticus xi. 24.

Haydock: 1Sa 20:27

To-day, which was the sabbath. (Calmet) ---

On the new moons people did not travel far. (Menochius)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:29

Sacrifice. Hebrew, "my family hath a sacrifice," &c., ver. 5. (Haydock)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:30

A man. Hebrew, "of an unjust revolt." Thou hast taken part against thy father. (Calmet) ---

Protestants, "son of the perverse rebellious woman. " Septuagint, "of the fugitive, (Haydock) or of those girls who go in quest of men." We must not suppose that Jonathan's mother was really of this description. Saul, in rage, wishes to affront his son, (Calmet) as some frantic parents call their children bastards, not reflecting that the reproach would fall upon themselves. ---

Isai, as he styles him out of contempt, ver. 27. ---

Mother. Hebrew, &c., "of thy mother's nakedness or shame." (Menochius) ---

Instead of a crown, thou must expect ot be reduced to a private station, to the disgrace of my family. (Haydock)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:31

The son of death. That is, one that deserveth death, and shall surely be put to death. (Challoner) ---

So people are often styled sons of perdition, of hell, of light, &c., (Calmet) when they are worthy of such things. (Haydock) ---

All the crime of David, was his too exalted merit, which, under a jealous prince, is often fatal. Nec minus periculum ex magna fama, quam ex mala. (Tacitus, Agricola.)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:34

Great. Literally, in the anger of fury." (Haydock) ---

Him, either David or Jonathan. (Calmet) ---

Indeed the crime of rebellion had been imputed to both. (Haydock) ---

Jonathan was grieved on account of the affront and danger (Menochius) to which he had been publicly exposed, as well as for his friend, upon whose destruction he perceived that his father was now deliberately bent, and not merely during his fits of madness. ---

Confusion. Septuagint, "because his father had completed his malice against him;" (Haydock) or, "had resolved to make an end of him." (Calmet)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:36

Another. The Hebrew, &c., do not express this distinctly; (Calmet) but we find, ver. 38, "the lad gathered up the arrows."

Haydock: 1Sa 20:40

Arms. Protestants, "artillery:" but the bow and arrow, &c., are meant. The boy was sent away under this pretext.

Haydock: 1Sa 20:41

Place. Protestants, "out of a place towards," &c. (Haydock) ---

Chaldean, "from the side of the rock Asha;" (or Ezel, ver. 19,) though the name is written rather differently in Hebrew. But this was the place appointed. (Calmet) ---

Septuagint, "from sleep,....and adored him,....and each bewailed his neighbour, to great perfection." (Haydock) ---

More. Jonathan strove to comfort him, as he was leaving wife, friends, and all. (Menochius)

Haydock: 1Sa 20:42

Stand. This is not expressed in the text, which is left imperfect, (Haydock) to denote the anguish of the parting friends, (Menochius) very beautifully. (Salien) ---

David did not exactly comply with this covenant, and his grandson lost half the kingdom, 2 Kings xix. (Tirinus)

Gill: 1Sa 20:16

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,.... Not with David himself only, which was now renewed, but with his family also:

saying, let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies; take vengeance on Jonathan, or on any of his posterity, should they break this covenant, by showing themselves enemies to David, and his crown; and, on the other hand, also on David, and his posterity, should they not show kindness to Jonathan and his seed, according to the tenor of this covenant.

Gill: 1Sa 20:17

And Jonathan caused David to swear again,.... Or Jonathan added to make David swears ^u; having sworn himself to make a covenant of friendship with David and his family, he moved and insisted on it, that David should swear to keep covenant with him, and his family:

because he loved him; it was not so much for the good and safety of his offspring that he made this motion, and was so desirous of renewing and enlarging his covenant with David, as it was his strong love and affection for him; being on that account desirous that there might be the strictest friendship imaginable retained between the two families; or he made him swear by his love to him, as some understand it, which is not so likely; the former sense is better, for he himself sware by the Lord, 1Sa 20:12,

for he loved him as his own soul; or "with the love of his soul" ^w; with the most cordial affection, with a truly hearty and sincere love, see 1Sa 18:1.

Gill: 1Sa 20:18

Then Jonathan said to David, tomorrow is the new moon,.... The first day of the month, as David had before observed, 1Sa 20:5,

and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty; or be inquired after, because not in his usual place at mealtime.

Gill: 1Sa 20:19

And when thou hast stayed three days,.... From court, either at Bethlehem, which seems most probable, or in some other place incognito; however, not in the field he proposed to hide himself in, where he could not continue so long for want of food:

then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself; which makes it clear that he did not continue there during that time, but went elsewhere; from whence he was to come in haste at the expiration of three days, to the place he first hid himself in, and which was fixed upon to meet at:

when the business was in hand; when the affair was discoursed of, about getting knowledge how Saul was affected to David, and of informing him of it; or "on the day of work" ^x; or business, on a working day, as the Septuagint; and so the Targum, on a common day; when, as the Vulgate Latin, it was lawful to work on it; and such was the day when Jonathan and David conversed together about the above affair; it being the day before the new moon, or first day of the month, on which day they used not to work: Some render it, "thou shalt three times go down" ^y to that place; and the sense is, that he should come on the morrow, and if he found not Jonathan there, he might conclude that as yet he knew nothing of his father's mind, and therefore should come the day following that; and if he found him not then, to come on the third day, that so he might be on the spot, let him come on which day he would:

and shalt remain by the stone Ezel; which, because it signifies "going", the Jewish commentators generally understand it as a sign to direct travellers which way to go; but one would think this should be an improper place for David to be near, since it must be where two or more ways met, and so a public frequented place; others think therefore it had its name from David and Jonathan often going thither, to discourse with each other; the Septuagint calls it Ergab; and so the place where Jonathan, the son of Saul, exercised himself by shooting darts, is called by Jerom ^z; it is said by Josephus ^a to be an hundred fifty furlongs (about nineteen miles), from Jerusalem, and from Jordan sixty, (about eight miles).

Gill: 1Sa 20:20

And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof,.... On the side of the stone Ezel; three are pitched upon, according to the number of the days David was missing:

as though I shot at a mark; as if he made the stone the mark he shot at; so that his shooting would not be taken notice of.

Gill: 1Sa 20:21

And, behold, I will send a lad,.... That attended on him, and carried his bow and arrows, and fetched his arrows when he had shot them:

saying, go, find out the arrows; where they are fallen, and return them:

if I expressly say unto the lad, behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; on one side of him, whether the one or the other, which he would bid him take up, and bring them to him:

then come thou; David, out of the place where he hid himself:

for there is peace to thee, and no hurt, as the Lord liveth; he might appear, and not be afraid of being seen by any, since by this sign he might be assured that Saul was well affected to him, and would show him favour, and do him no injury; and that he might promise himself prosperity and safety, and be assured of it for the present.

Gill: 1Sa 20:22

But if I say thus unto the young man, behold, the arrows are beyond thee,.... Being shot to a greater distance than where the young man was:

go thy way, for the Lord hath sent thee away; then he was to depart directly, without staying to have any conversation with Jonathan, which would not be safe for either of them, and so make the best of his way into the country, and escape for his life; for so it was ordered by the providence of God, that he must not stay, but be gone immediately: the signals were these, that if things were favourable, then he would shoot his arrows on one side of the lad, and David might come out and show himself at once; but if not, he would shoot them beyond him, by which he might know that he must flee for his life.

Gill: 1Sa 20:23

And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of,.... The covenant they had made between them and their families:

behold, the Lord be between me and thee for ever: as a witness of the covenant, and a revenger of those that should break it; so the Targum,"behold, the Word of the Lord be between me and thee a witness for ever.''

Gill: 1Sa 20:24

So David hid himself in the field,.... Not directly, but at the time appointed; for he went to Bethlehem, and returned from thence before that time:

and when the new moon was come; the first clay of the month, which was a solemn festival:

the king sat him down to eat meat; Saul sat down at his table to eat of the provisions that were set upon it; which it is very probable were the peace offerings for that day, which he, his family, and nobles, feasted on together; it is in the Hebrew, "he sat down at the bread" ^b, which is put for all the food on the table, and the provisions of it.

Gill: 1Sa 20:25

And the king sat upon his seat as at other times,.... Upon the seat he usually sat on:

even upon a seat by the wall; on a couch by the side of the wall; or, as Jarchi and R. Isaiah say, at the head of the couch by the wall, which was the most honourable place; and Kimchi observes, it was the custom in those days to eat meat sitting on beds or couches, see 1Sa 28:23,

and Jonathan arose; either in reverence to his father, when he came in and took his seat, or in respect to Abner upon his coming in, being the son of Saul's uncle, and general of the army; for though he arose, he did not depart, it is plain he sat down again, 1Sa 20:34. Kimchi thinks, that after Jonathan had sat down at the side of his father, he arose and placed Abner there, because he would not be near his father, that if he should be wroth with him on account of David, he might not be near him to smite him:

and Abner sat by Saul's side; according to Josephus ^c Jonathan sat at his right hand and Abner on the left, and it was usual for the master, or principal person, to sit in the middle; so Dido in Virgil ^d. Abarbinel places them thus, Saul was at the head of the table, and David was used to sit by him, and Jonathan by David, and Abner by Jonathan; and now the king sat in his place, and Jonathan in his place, and Abner after him; and David's place being empty, Jonathan was left next to his father, without any between; wherefore he now arose from his place, and Abner sat on that side where Saul was, so that Abner was between Jonathan and Saul:

and David's place was empty; where he used to sit at table, he not being there, and no one taking it.

Gill: 1Sa 20:26

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 Lev 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.

Gill: 1Sa 20:27

And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month,.... The Targum is,"and it was on the day after it, which was the intercalation of the second month;''when the beginning of the month was judged of by the appearance of the moon, and there was a difficulty about that, what day it appeared on, two days were kept for it; and Abarbinel ^e is clear for it, that two days were kept in this month; but if this was not the case, since the remainder of peace offerings might be eaten the next day, Lev 7:16. Saul and his guests might meet on the second day for that purpose:

that David's place was empty: on that day also:

and Saul said to Jonathan his son; who he knew was David's friend and confident, and could give the best account of him:

wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor today; he accounted for his not coming yesterday, because he supposed he might be under some ceremonial uncleanness; but then that only lasted to the evening of that day; but not coming the second day when he was clean, he inquires after him; and not owning him for his son-in-law, by way of contempt, and to lessen him in the esteem of all at table, he calls him the son of Jesse.

Gill: 1Sa 20:28

And Jonathan answered Saul,.... In reply to Saul's question, and to excuse David, he said:

David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem; his own city, his native place, where his family lived, whom he was desirous to see, and yet chose not to go without asking leave; and as Saul was not at home, he asked leave of Jonathan, who was next to him, and acted for him; and he was very pressing and importunate in his suit, and therefore Jonathan could not well deny him it; and he hoped this would ben sufficient excuse for his absence, especially when what follows should be observed.

Gill: 1Sa 20:29

And he said, let me go, I pray thee, for our family hath a sacrifice in the city,.... In the city of Bethlehem where they lived, a peace offering on account of the new moon, and as an anniversary thanksgiving for the mercies of the year, 1Sa 20:6; and seeing, though he was not at the feast in one place, he observed it in another, his absence at court was the more excusable; and the rather, since it was kept by him with his own family, in his own city: besides, it is added:

and my brother he hath commanded me to be there; his elder brother Eliab, whose commands, as a younger brother, he judged he ought to obey; it is probable his father was now dead, since no mention is made of him, and his elder brother took upon him the command of the family:

and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, see my brethren: he should take it as a favour to have leave to depart, and be free for the present from waiting upon the king at court, and so have an opportunity of seeing his brethren, for which he had a great desire; having not seen them a long time, not even since he saw them in the camp, when he slew Goliath:

therefore he cometh not to the king's table: this was the reason of it, at least one reason of it, and Jonathan was not obliged to tell the whole.

Gill: 1Sa 20:30

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan,.... For giving David leave to go, and for excusing him in this manner:

and he said unto him, thou son of the perverse and rebellious woman; most of the Jewish commentators supply it as we do, but the supplement of woman may as well be left out, and be read, "thou son of perverse rebellion" ^f; thou perverse and rebellious wretch, perverse in thy temper, and rebellious in thy conduct; for the design of the expression is not to reproach his mother, for which there seems no provocation, but Jonathan only; and the next clause confirms it, which expresses a concern for his mother's honour and credit; the Targum is,"an obstinate son, whose rebellion is hard,''or intolerable; according to which, Abarbinel says, it may refer to David:

do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? The above writer observes, that he does not say to his own confusion, because David would not reign in his lifetime, only after his death, but to the shame of Jonathan and his mother; to Jonathan's shame, who would be reckoned by men an arrant fool, to be so friendly to a rival, and who in all probability would jostle him out of the throne; and what would men say of him? that either he was not fit to reign, or had no right to the throne, that a son-in-law took place before him; and that his mother had played the whore, and he was no son of Saul, having nothing of his genius, temper, and disposition in him, as appeared by loving such his father hated; and besides, his mother would not have the honour she expected, to be the mother of a king.

Gill: 1Sa 20:31

For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom,.... He would not, though heir to the crown, be sure of it; it would be precarious to him, he would be in great danger of being deprived of it on the death of his father; and therefore it would be his highest wisdom to deliver David up to be slain, as it was his greatest folly to protect him, and provide for his satiety:

wherefore now send and fetch him unto me; send to Bethlehem for him to come to court directly:

for he shall surely die; or he is "the son of death" ^g; guilty of death, as the Targum, deserves to die, and Saul was determined upon his death if possible.

Gill: 1Sa 20:32

And Jonathan answered Saul his, father, and said unto him,.... Making no answer to the charges of perverseness, rebellion, and folly brought against himself, which he bore with patience, but could not bear to hear his dear friend spoken against, and as worthy of death; and therefore in answer to that says:

wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? has he attempted to take away thy life? to deprive thee of thy crown? to settle himself upon the throne? what overt act of treason has he been guilty of; that he should die? on the contrary, has he not done many things worthy of immortal honour, for the good of the nation, and the glory of thy reign? and if God has determined the kingdom for him, and anointed him to it, what blame can be laid upon him? nay, should he not be the rather respected and honoured?

Gill: 1Sa 20:33

And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him,.... So provoked to wrath was he by what he said. It seems by this that Saul always had a javelin or spear in his hand, which is to be accounted for by the custom of those times; in other countries, as well as in this, the kings used to carry spears in their hands instead of sceptres, and which they used as such; so Justin ^h, speaking of the times of Romulus, says, that kings in those times had spears, as an ensign of royalty, which the Greeks call sceptres; and so the Greeks called sceptres spears ⁱ:

whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David; for since he attempted to smite him, his own son, for speaking on his behalf, it might be well concluded, that such was his settled wrath and malice, that he would if possible kill David, could he get him into his hands.

Gill: 1Sa 20:34

So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger,.... Resenting his father's attempt to smite him, and his resolution to slay David:

and did eat no meat the second day of the month; not then at that meal he was just sat down to, nor at another time that day, his stomach was so full through indignation at his father, and grief for his friend David; and besides, being a mourner on the above accounts, he might not eat of the sacrifices:

for he was grieved for David; that his death should be determined upon by his father, and he in so much danger of it; as also that he himself must be parted from and lose so dear a friend, which was one reason he ate no meat that day: and another follows:

because his father had done him shame; the copulative "and" being wanting; and this he did by calling him a perverse and rebellious son, and representing him as an arrant fool, and particularly by casting a javelin at him to smite him.

Gill: 1Sa 20:35

And it came to pass in the morning:,.... The next morning, the morning of the third day of the month:

that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David; he went to the place in the field, or near it, where David hid himself, and at the time agreed between them; which, Abarbinel says, was the time the nobles agreed on for walking, and motion, and for hunting, and casting of arrows, so that Jonathan could go forth without suspicion:

and a little lad with him; to carry his bow and arrows, and fetch his arrows when cast.

Gill: 1Sa 20:36

And he said unto his lad, run, find out now the arrows which I shoot,.... He no doubt told him the mark which he should shoot at, the stone Ezel, and bid him look out about that for them:

and as the lad ran; before he had got to the mark:

he shot an arrow beyond him: or it; beyond the lad, or beyond the mark he shot at; purposely shooting with great strength, that he might exceed, and thereby give notice to David how things stood, which was the sign agreed on.

Gill: 1Sa 20:37

And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot,.... To the mark which he told him he should shoot at, and whereabout he might expect to find the arrow:

Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, is not the arrow beyond thee? he cried with a loud voice and said this, not so much that the lad might hear him, but that David, who lay hid near the place, might hear him; so that if they had no opportunity of seeing and conversing with each other through any person going by at that time, David might know by this sign that evil was determined against him, and must flee for his life; the Syriac and Vulgate Latin versions read, "behold, the arrow is beyond thee"; so Noldius ^k.

Gill: 1Sa 20:38

And Jonathan cried after the lad, make speed, haste, stay not,.... But bring the arrows to him directly, that he might dismiss him; for, observing that no man was passing by, he was desirous of embracing the opportunity for a few minutes to have an interview with David alone before he fled:

and Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows; for though the textual reading is singular, the marginal is plural, to show, as Kimchi observes, that he cast three arrows, as he said he would, 1Sa 20:20;

and came to his master; with them.

Gill: 1Sa 20:39

But the lad knew not anything,.... What was meant by shooting the arrows, and by shooting them beyond where he was, and by bidding him make haste to bring them:

only Jonathan and David knew the matter; what was signified by them, those being signs agreed upon between them.

Gill: 1Sa 20:40

And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad,.... "His vessels" ^l or instruments; his arms, as the Targum, his quiver, bow, and arrows:

and said unto him, go, carry them to the city; to Gibeah, to Jonathan's house, or to his apartments at court there.

Gill: 1Sa 20:41

And as soon as the lad was gone,.... Which David could observe from his lurking place:

David arose out of a place toward the south; to the south of the field in which he was hid, or to the south of the stone Ezel, near which he was; and so the Targum,"and David arose from the side of the stone Atha, which was towards the south;''Jonathan shooting his arrows to the north of it, lest the lad should have discovered David when he ran for them: and fell on his face to the ground; in reverence of Jonathan, as the son of a king, and in respect to him as his friend, who had so faithfully served him, and was so concerned to save his life:

and bowed himself three times: this was before he fell prostrate on the ground. Abarbinel observes, that bowing three; times was fit and proper to be done to a king; once at the place from whence they first see him, the second time in the middle of the way to him, and the third time when come to him; but though this may have been a custom in more modern times, it is a question whether it obtained so early; however it is certain bowing was as ancient, and therefore Xenophon ^z is mistaken in ascribing it to Cyrus as the first introducer of this custom; and be it that he was the first that began it among the Persians, it was in use with others before, as this behaviour of David shows:

and they kissed one another; as friends about to part:

and wept one with another: as not knowing whether they should ever see each other's face any more:

until David exceeded; in weeping more than Jonathan; he having more to part with, not only him his dear friend, but his wife and family, and other dear friends and people of God, and especially the sanctuary and service of God, which of all things lay nearest his heart, and most distressed him; see 1Sa 26:19; and many of his psalms on this occasion. Ben Gersom suggests that he wept more than was meet, through too much fear of Saul; but that seems not to be the case.

Gill: 1Sa 20:42

And Jonathan said to David, go in peace,.... In peace of mind, committing himself, his family, and affairs, to the providence of God, who would take care of him, and keep him in safety from the evil designs of Saul; and particularly he would have him be easy with respect to what had passed between them two, not doubting but it would be faithfully observed on both sides:

forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord: had made a covenant with each other by an oath, in the name and presence of God as a witness to it:

saying, the Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever; as a witness of the agreement between them, including them and their offspring, and as a revenger of such that should break it. The Targum is,"the Word of the Lord be between thee and me, &c."

and he arose and departed; that is, David arose from the ground, and took his leave of Jonathan, and departed into the country for the safety of his person and life:

and Jonathan went into the city; into the city of Gibeah, where Saul dwelt and had his court.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:16

¹ tn Heb “cut.” The object of the verb (“covenant”) must be supplied.

² tn The word order is different in the Hebrew text, which reads “and Jonathan cut with the house of David, and the Lord will seek from the hand of the enemies of David.” The translation assumes that the main clauses of the verse have been accidentally transposed in the course of transmission. The first part of the verse (as it stands in MT) belongs with v. 17, while the second part of the verse actually continues v. 15.

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:17

¹ tn Heb “for [with] the love of his [own] life he loved him.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:19

¹ tc Heb “you will do [something] a third time.” The translation assumes an emendation of the verb from שִׁלַּשְׁתָּ (shillashta, “to do a third time”) to שִׁלִּישִׁית (shillishit, “[on the] third [day]”).

² tn Heb “you must go down greatly.” See Judg 19:11 for the same idiom.

³ tn Heb “on the day of the deed.” This probably refers to the incident recorded in 19:2.

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:21

¹ tn Heb “from you and here.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:22

¹ tn Heb “from you and onward.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:23

¹ tc Heb “the Lord [is] between me and between you forever.” The translation assumes that the original text read עֵד עַד־עוֹלָם (’ed ’ad-’olam), “a witness forever,” with the noun “a witness” accidentally falling out of the text by haplography. See P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 338.

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:25

¹ tc Heb “and Jonathan arose.” Instead of MT’s וַיָּקָם (vayyaqam, “and he arose”; from the hollow verbal root קוּם, qum), the translation assumes a reading וַיִּקַדֵּם (vayyiqaddem, “and he was in front of”; from the verbal root קדם, qdm). See P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 338.

² tn Heb “and Abner sat at the side of Saul.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:26

¹ tn The words “about it” are not present in the Hebrew text, although they are implied.

² tn Heb “said,” that is, to himself.

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:29

¹ tn Heb “send me.”

² tn Heb “commanded.”

³ tn Heb “be released [from duty].”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:30

¹ tc Many medieval Hebrew mss include the words “his son” here.

² tn Heb “son of a perverse woman of rebelliousness.” But such an overly literal and domesticated translation of the Hebrew expression fails to capture the force of Saul’s unrestrained reaction. Saul, now incensed and enraged over Jonathan’s liaison with David, is actually hurling very coarse and emotionally charged words at his son. The translation of this phrase suggested by Koehler and Baumgartner is “bastard of a wayward woman” (HALOT 796 s.v. עוה), but this is not an expression commonly used in English. A better English approximation of the sentiments expressed here by the Hebrew phrase would be “You stupid son of a bitch!” However, sensitivity to the various public formats in which the Bible is read aloud has led to a less startling English rendering which focuses on the semantic value of Saul’s utterance (i.e., the behavior of his own son Jonathan, which he viewed as both a personal and a political betrayal [= “traitor”]). But this concession should not obscure the fact that Saul is full of bitterness and frustration. That he would address his son Jonathan with such language, not to mention his apparent readiness even to kill his own son over this friendship with David (v. 33), indicates something of the extreme depth of Saul’s jealousy and hatred of David.

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:31

¹ tn Heb “all the days that.”

² tn The words “some men” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tn Heb “a son of death.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:33

¹ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Jonathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “knew.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:34

¹ tn Heb “for he was upset concerning David for his father had humiliated him.” The referent of the pronoun “him” is not entirely clear, but the phrase “concerning David” suggests that it refers to David, rather than Jonathan.

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:36

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jonathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:37

¹ tn Heb “called after” (also in v. 38).

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:39

¹ tn Heb “knew the matter.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:41

¹ tc The translation follows the LXX in reading “the mound,” rather than the MT’s “the south.” It is hard to see what meaning the MT reading “from beside the south” would have as it stands, since such a location lacks specificity. The NIV treats it as an elliptical expression, rendering the phrase as “from the south side of the stone (rock NCV).” This is perhaps possible, but it seems better to follow the LXX rather than the MT here.

² tn Heb “fell.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 20:42

¹ sn Beginning with 20:42b, the verse numbers through 21:15 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 20:42b ET = 21:1 HT, 21:1 ET = 21:2 HT, 21:2 ET = 21:3 HT, etc., through 21:15 ET = 21:16 HT. With 22:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same.

² tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:22

But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows [are] beyond thee; go thy way: for the ^{( i )} LORD hath sent thee away.

^{( i )} The Lord is the author of your departure.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:26

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.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:27

And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the second [day] of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not ^{( l )} the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?

^{( l )} Thus he speaks contemptuously of David.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:29

And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me [to be there]: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my ^{( n )} brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

^{( n )} Meaning, all his kinsfolk.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:30

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou ^{( o )} son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

^{( o )} You are always contrary to me as your mother is.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:32

And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be ^{( p )} slain? what hath he done?

^{( p )} For it was too great tyranny to put one to death and not to give a reason why.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:35

And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field ^{( q )} at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.

^{( q )} For this was the third day, as it was agreed on in (1Sa 20:5).

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:38

And Jonathan cried after the lad, ^{( r )} Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

^{( r )} By these words be admonished David what he should do.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:41

[And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the ^{( s )} south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

^{( s )} It seems that he shot on the north side of the stone, least the boy should have seen David.

Geneva Bible: 1Sa 20:42

And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have ^{( t )} sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

^{( t )} Which oath he calls the covenant of the Lord in (1Sa 20:8).

Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Sa 20:1-42

1 David consults with Jonathan for his safety.

11 Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath.

18 Jonathan's token to David.

24 Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan.

35 Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David.

MHCC: 1Sa 20:11-23

Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted sinners! how great then ought to be the force and effects of our love to him, to his cause, and his people!

MHCC: 1Sa 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!

MHCC: 1Sa 20:35-42

The separation of two such faithful friends was grievous to both, but David's case was the more deplorable, for David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary. Christians need not sorrow, as men without hope; but being one with Christ, they are one with each other, and will meet in his presence ere long, to part no more; to meet where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes.

Matthew Henry: 1Sa 20:9-23

Here, I. Jonathan protests his fidelity to David in his distress. Notwithstanding the strong confidence David had in Jonathan, yet, because he might have some reason to fear that his father's influence, and his own interest, should make him warp, or grow cool towards him, Jonathan thought it requisite solemnly to renew the professions of his friendship to him (1Sa 20:9): " Far be it from thee to think that I suspect thee of any crime for which I should either slay thee myself or deliver thee to my father; no, if thou hast any jealousy of that, Come let us go into the field (1Sa 20:11), and talk it over more fully."He did not challenge him to the field to fight him for an affront, but to fix him in his friendship. He faithfully promised him that he would let him know how, upon trial, he found his father affected towards him, and would make the matter neither better nor worse than it was. "If there be good towards thee, I will show it thee, that thou mayest be easy (1Sa 20:12), if evil, I will send thee away, that thou mayest be safe"(1Sa 20:13); and thus he would help to deliver him from the evil if it were real and from the fear of evil if it were but imaginary. For the confirmation of his promise he appeals to God, 1. As a witness (1Sa 20:12): " O Lord God of Israel, thou knowest I mean sincerely, and think as I speak."The strength of his passion made the manner of his speaking concise and abrupt. 2. As a judge: " The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan (1Sa 20:13), if I speak deceitfully, or break my word with my friend."He expressed himself thus solemnly that David might be abundantly assured of his sincerity. And thus God has confirmed his promises to us, that we might have strong consolation, Heb 6:17, Heb 6:18. Jonathan adds to his protestations his hearty prayers: " The Lord be with thee, to protect and prosper thee, as he has been formerly with my father, though now he has withdrawn."Thus he imitates his belief that David would be in his father's place, and his good wishes that he might prosper in it better than his father now did.

II. He provides for the entail of the covenant of friendship with David upon his posterity, 1Sa 20:14-16. He engages David to be a friend to his family when he was gone (1Sa 20:15): Thou shalt promise that thou wilt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever. This he spoke from a natural affection he had to his children, whom he desired it might go well with after his decease, and for whose future welfare he desired to improve his present interest. It also intimates his firm belief of David's advancement, and that it would be in the power of his hand to do a kindness or unkindness to his seed; for, in process of time, the Lord would cut off his enemies, Saul himself was not expected; then " Do not thou cut off thy kindness from my house, nor revenge my father's wrongs upon my children."The house of David must likewise be bound to the house of Jonathan from generation to generation; he made a covenant (1Sa 20:16) with the house of David. Note, True friends cannot but covet to transmit to theirs after them their mutual affections. Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not. This kindness, 1. He calls the kindness of the Lord, because it is such kindness as God shows to those he takes into covenant with himself; for he is a God to them and to their seed; they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 2. He secures it by an imprecation (1Sa 20:16): The Lord require it at the hand of David's seed (for of David himself he had no suspicion) if they prove so far David's enemies as to deal wrongfully with the posterity of Jonathan, David's friend. He feared lest David, or some of his, should hereafter be tempted, for the clearing and confirming of their title to the throne, to do by his seed as Abimelech had done by the sons of Gideon (Jdg 9:5), and this he would effectually prevent; but the reason given (1Sa 20:17) why Jonathan was so earnest to have the friendship entailed is purely generous, and has nothing of self in it; it was because he loved him as he loved his own soul, and therefore desired that he and his might be beloved by him. David, though now in disgrace at court and in distress, was as amiable in the eyes of Jonathan as ever he had been, and he loved him never the less for his father's hating him, so pure were the principles on which his friendship was built. Having himself sworn to David, he caused David to swear to him, and (as we read it) to swear again, which David consented to (for he that bears an honest mind does not startle at assurances), to swear by his love to him, which he looked upon as a sacred thing. Jonathan's heart was so much upon it that, when they parted this time, he concluded with a solemn appeal to God: The Lord be between me and thee for ever (1Sa 20:23), that is, "God himself be judge between us and our families for ever, if on either side this league of friendship be violated."It was in remembrance of this covenant that David was kind to Mephibosheth, 2Sa 9:7; 2Sa 21:7. It will be a kindness to ourselves and ours to secure an interest in those whom God favours and to make his friends ours.

III. He settles the method of intelligence, and by what signs and tokens he would give him notice how his father stood affected towards him. David would be missed the first day, or at least the second day, of the new moon, and would be enquired after, 1Sa 20:18. On the third day, by which time he would have returned from Bethlehem, he must be at such a place (1Sa 20:19), and Jonathan would come towards that place with his bow and arrows to shoot for diversion (1Sa 20:20), would send his lad to fetch his arrows, and, if they were shot short of the lad, David must take it for a signal of safety, and not be afraid to show his head (1Sa 20:21); but, if he shot beyond the lad, it was a signal of danger, and he must shift for his safety, 1Sa 20:22. This expedient he fixed lest he should not have the opportunity, which yet it proved he had, of talking with David, and making the report by word of mouth.

Matthew Henry: 1Sa 20:24-34

Jonathan is here effectually convinced of that which he was so loth to believe, that his father had an implacable enmity to David, and would certainly be the death of him if it were in his power; and he had like to have paid very dearly himself for the conviction.

I. David is missed from the feast on the first day, but nothing is said of him. The king sat upon his seat, to feast upon the peace-offerings as at other times (1Sa 20:25), and yet had his heart as full of envy and malice against David as it could hold. He should first have been reconciled to him, and then have come and offered his gift; but, instead of that, he hoped, at this feast, to drink the blood of David. What an abomination was that sacrifice which was brought with such a wicked mind as this! Pro 21:27. When the king came to take his seat Jonathan arose, in reverence to him both as a father and as his sovereign; every one knew his place, but David's was empty. It did not use to be so. None more content than he in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent now but that he must have come at the peril of his life; self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In imminent peril present opportunities may be waived, nay, we ought not to throw ourselves into the mouth of danger. Christ himself absconded often, till he knew that his hour had come. But that day Saul took no notice that he missed David, but said within himself, " Surely he is not clean, 1Sa 20:26. Some ceremonial pollution has befallen him, which forbids him to eat of the holy things till he has washed his clothes, and bathed his flesh in water, and been unclean until the evening. "Saul knew what conscience David made of the law, and that he would rather keep away from the holy feast than come in his uncleanness. Blessed be God, no uncleanness is now a restraint upon us, but what we may by faith and repentance be washed from in the fountain opened, Psa 26:6.

II. He is enquired for the second day, 1Sa 20:27. Saul asked Jonathan, who he knew was his confidant, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat? He was his own son by marriage, but he calls him in disdain, the son of Jesse. He asks for him as if he were not pleased that he should be absent from a religious feast; and so it should be example to masters of families to see to it that those under their charge be not absent from the worship of God, either in public or in the family. It is a bad thing for us, except in case of necessity, to omit an opportunity of statedly attending on God in solemn ordinances. Thomas lost a sight of Christ by being once absent from a meeting of the disciples. But that which displeased Saul was that hereby he missed the opportunity he expected of doing David a mischief.

III. Jonathan makes his excuse, 1Sa 20:28, 1Sa 20:29. 1. That he was absent upon a good occasion, keeping the feast in another place, though not here, sent for by his elder brother, who was now more respectful to him than he had been (1Sa 17:28), and that he had gone to pay his respects to his relations, for the keeping up of brotherly love; and no master would deny a servant liberty to do that in due time. He pleads, 2. That he did not go without leave humbly asked and obtained from Jonathan, who, as his superior officer, was proper to be applied to for it. Thus he represents David as not wanting in any instance of respect and duty to the government.

IV. Saul hereupon breaks out into a most extravagant passion, and rages like a lion disappointed of his prey. David was out of his reach, but he falls upon Jonathan for his sake (1Sa 20:30, 1Sa 20:31), gives him base language, not fit for a gentleman, a prince, to give to any man, especially his own son, heir apparent to his crown, a son that served him, the greatest stay and ornament of his family, before a great deal of company, at a feast, when all should be in good humour, at a sacred feast, by which all irregular passions should be mortified and subdued; yet he does in effect call him, 1. A bastard: Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman; that is, according to the foolish filthy language of men's brutish passion now a day, "Thou son of a whore."He tells him he was born to the confusion of his mother, that is, he had given the world cause to suspect that he was not the legitimate son of Saul, because he loved him whom Saul hated and supported him who would be the destruction of their family. 2. A traitor: Thou son of a perverse rebellion (so the word is), that is, "thou perverse rebel."At other times he reckoned no counsellor or commander that he had more trusty and well-beloved than Jonathan; yet now in this passion he represents him as dangerous to his crown and life. 3. A fool: Thou hast chosen the son of Jesse for thy friend to thy own confusion, for while he lives thou shalt never be established. Jonathan indeed did wisely and well for himself and family to secure an interest in David, whom Heaven had destined to the throne, yet, for this, he is branded as most impolitic. It is good taking God's people for our people and going with those that have him with them. It will prove to our advantage at last, however for the present it may be thought a disparagement, and a prejudice to our secular interest. It is probable Saul knew that David was anointed to the kingdom by the same hand that anointed him, and then not Jonathan, but himself, was the fool, to think to defeat the counsels of God. Yet nothing will serve him but David must die, and Jonathan must fetch him to execution. See how ill Saul's passion looks, and let it warn us against the indulgence of any thing like it in ourselves. Anger is madness, and he that hates his brother is a murderer.

V. Jonathan is sorely grieved and put into disorder by his father's barbarous passion, and the more because he had hoped better things, 1Sa 20:2. He was troubled for his father, that he should be such a brute, troubled for his friend, whom he knew to be a friend of God, that he should be so basely abused; he was grieved for David (1Sa 20:34), and troubled for himself too, because his father had done him shame, and, though most unjustly, yet he must submit to it. One would pity Jonathan to see how he was put, 1. Into the peril of sin. Much ado that wise and good man had to keep his temper, upon such a provocation as this. His father's reflections upon himself made no return to; it becomes inferiors to bear with meekness and silence the contempts put upon them in wrath and passion. When thou art the anvil lie thou still. But his dooming David to die he could not bear: to that he replied with some heat (1Sa 20:32), Wherefore shall he be slain? What has he done? Generous spirits can much more easily bear to be abused themselves than to hear their friends abused. 2. Into the peril of death. Saul was now so outrageous that he threw his javelin at Jonathan, 1Sa 20:33. He seemed to be in great care (1Sa 20:31) than Jonathan should be established in his kingdom, and yet now he himself aims at his life. What fools, what savage beasts and worse does anger make men! How necessary it is to put a hook in its nose and a bridle in its jaws! Jonathan was fully satisfied that evil was determined against David, which put him out of frame exceedingly: he rose from table, thinking it high time when his life was struck at, and would eat no meat, for they were not to eat of the holy things in their mourning. All the guests, we may suppose, were discomposed, and the mirth of the feast was spoiled. He that is cruel troubles his own flesh, Pro 11:17.

Matthew Henry: 1Sa 20:35-42

Here is, 1. Jonathan's faithful performance of his promise to give David notice of the success of his dangerous experiment. He went at the time and to the place appointed (1Sa 20:35), within sight of which he knew David lay hid, sent his footboy to fetch his arrows, which he would shoot at random (1Sa 20:36), and gave David the fatal signal by shooting an arrow beyond the lad (1Sa 20:37): Is not the arrow beyond thee? That word [ beyond ] David knew the meaning of better than the lad. Jonathan dismissed the lad, who knew nothing of the matter, and, finding the coast clear and no danger of a discovery, he presumed upon one minute's personal conversation with David after he had bidden him flee for his life. 2. The most sorrowful parting of these two friends, who, for aught that appears, never came together again but once, and that was by stealth in a wood, 1Sa 23:16. (1.) David addressed himself to Jonathan with the reverence of a servant rather than the freedom of a friend: He fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times, as one deeply sensible of his obligations to him for the good services he had done him. (2.) They took leave of each other with the greatest affection imaginable, with kisses and tears; they wept on each other's neck till David exceeded, 1Sa 20:41. The separation of two such faithful friends was equally grievous to them both, but David's case was the more deplorable; for, when Jonathan was returning to his family and friends, David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary, and therefore his grief exceeded Jonathan's, or perhaps it was because his temper was more tender and his passions were stronger. (3.) They referred themselves to the covenant of friendship that was between them, both of them comforting themselves with this in this mournful separation: " We have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, for ourselves and our heirs, that we and they will be faithful and kind to each other from generation to generation."Thus, while we are at home in the body and absent from the Lord, this is our comfort, that he has made with us an everlasting covenant.

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 20:12-23

In the field, where they were both entirely free from observation, Jonathanfirst of all renewed his covenant with David, by vowing to him on oaththat he would give him information of his father's feelings towards him(1Sa 20:12, 1Sa 20:13); and then entreated him, with a certain presentiment thatDavid would one day be king, even then to maintain his love towards himand his family for ever (1Sa 20:14-16); and lastly, he made David swear againconcerning his love (1Sa 20:17), and then gave him the sign by which he wouldcommunicate the promised information (1Sa 20:18-23).

1Sa 20:12-15

1Sa 20:12 and 1Sa 20:13 are connected. Jonathan commences with asolemn invocation of God: " Jehovah, God of Israel! "and thus introduceshis oath. We have neither to supply "Jehovah is witness ,"nor "as truly asJehovah liveth ,"as some have suggested. " When I inquire of my fatherabout this time to-morrow, the day after to-morrow (a concise mode ofsaying 'to-morrow or the day after'), and behold it is (stands) well forDavid, and then I do not send to thee and make it known to thee, Jehovahshall do so to Jonathan ,"etc. ("The Lord do so,"etc., the ordinary formulaused in an oath: see 1Sa 14:44). The other case is then added without anadversative particle: " If it should please my father evil against thee ( lit . asregards evil), "I will make it known to thee, and let thee go, that thoumayest go in peace; and Jehovah be with thee, as He has been with myfather." In this wish there is expressed the presentiment that David wouldone day occupy that place in Israel which Saul occupied then, i.e., thethrone. - In 1Sa 20:14 and 1Sa 20:15 the Masoretic text gives no appropriate meaning. Luther's rendering, in which he follows the Rabbins and takes the first ולא (1Sa 20:14) by itself, and then completes the sentence from thecontext ("but if I do it not, show me no mercy, because I live, not even if Idie"), contains indeed a certain permissible sense when considered in itself;but it is hardly reconcilable with what follows, "and do not tear away thycompassion for ever from my house." The request that he would show nocompassion to him (Jonathan) even if he died, and yet would notwithdraw his compassion from his house for ever, contains an antithesiswhich would have been expressed most clearly and unambiguously in thewords themselves, if this had been really what Jonathan intended to say. De Wette's rendering gives a still more striking contradiction: " But let not (Jehovah be with thee) if I still live, and thou showest not the love ofJehovah to me, that I do not, and thou withdrawest not thy love from myhouse for ever ."There is really no other course open than to follow theSyriac and Arabic, as Maurer, Thenius, and Ewald have done, and changethe ולא in the first two clauses in 1Sa 20:14 into ולוּ or ולא ,according to the analogy of the form לוּא (1Sa 14:30), and torender the passage thus: "And mayest thou, if I still live, mayest thoushow to me the favour of the Lord, and not if I do, not withdraw thyfavour from my house for ever, not even ( ולא ) when Jehovah shallcut off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth!"" Thefavour of Jehovah "is favour such as Jehovah shall cut off,"etc., showsvery clearly Jonathan's conviction that Jehovah would give to David avictory over all his enemies.

1Sa 20:16

Thus Jonathan concluded a covenant with the house of David,namely, by bringing David to promise kindness to his family for ever. Theword בּרית must be supplied in thought to יכרת , as in 1Sa 22:8 and 2Ch 7:18. " And Jehovah required it (what Jonathan hadpredicted) at the hand of David's enemies ."Understood in this manner, thesecond clause contains a remark of the historian himself, namely, thatJonathan's words were really fulfilled in due time. The traditional renderingof וּבקּשׁ as a relative preterite, with אמר understood,"and said, Let Jehovah take vengeance," is not only precluded by theharshness of the introduction of the word "saying,"but still more by thefact, that if אמר (saying) is introduced between the copula vav and the verb בּקּשׁ , the perfect cannot stand for the optative בּקּשׁ , as in Jos 22:23.

1Sa 20:17

" And Jonathan adjured David again by his love to him, becausehe loved him as his own soul "(cf. 1Sa 18:1, 1Sa 18:3); i.e., he once moreimplored David most earnestly with an oath to show favour to him and hishouse.

1Sa 20:18-19

He then discussed the sign with him for letting him knowabout his father's state of mind: "To-morrow is new moon, and thou wiltbe missed, for thy seat will be empty," sc., at Saul's table (see at 1Sa 20:5). " And on the third day come down quickly (from thy sojourning place), and go to the spot where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the deed,and place thyself by the side of the stone Ezel ."The first words in this(19th) verse are not without difficulty. The meaning "on the third day"forthe verb שׁלּשׁ cannot be sustained by parallel passages, but isfully established, partly by השּׁלשׁית , the third day, and partlyby the Arabic usage (vid., Ges. Thes. s. v. ). מאד after תּרד , lit., "go violently down," is more striking still. Nevertheless thecorrectness of the text is not to be called in question, since שׁלּשׁתּ is sustained by τρισσεύσει in the Septuagint, and מאד תּרד by descende ergo festinus in the Vulgate, and also by therendering in the Chaldee, Arabic, and Syriac versions, "and on the thirdday thou wilt be missed still more,"which is evidently merely a conjecturefounded upon the context. The meaning of המּעשׂה בּיום is doubtful. Gesenius , De Wette, and Maurer render it "on the dayof the deed,"and understand it as referring to Saul's deed mentioned in 1Sa 19:2, viz., his design of killing David; others render it "on the day ofbusiness,"i.e., the working day (Luther, after the lxx and Vulgate), butthis is not so good a rendering. The best is probably that of Thenius, "onthe day of the business"(which is known to thee). Nothing further can besaid concerning the stone Ezel than that Ezel is a proper name.

1Sa 20:20

" And I will shoot off three arrows to the side of it (the stoneEzek), to shoot for me at the mark ,"i.e., as if shooting at the mark. Thearticle attached to החצּים is either to be explained as denotingthat the historian assumed the thing as already well known, or on thesupposition that Jonathan went to the field armed, and when giving thesign pointed to the arrows in his quiver. In the word צדּה the Raphe indicates that the suffix of ־ה is not a mere toneless ה , although ithas no mappik, having given up its strong breathing on account of theharsh צ sound.

1Sa 20:21

" And, behold ( הנּה , directing attention to what followsas the main point), I will send the boy (saying), Go, get the arrows. If Ishall say to the boy, Behold, the arrows are from thee hitherwards, fetchthem; then come, for peace is to thee, and it is nothing, as truly as Jehovahliveth ."

1Sa 20:22

"But if I say to the youth, Behold, the arrows are from theefarther off; then go, for Jehovah sendeth thee away," i.e., bids thee flee. The appointment of this sign was just as simple as it was suitable to thepurpose.

1Sa 20:23

This arrangement was to remain an eternal secret between them. " And (as for) the word that we have spoken, I and thou, behold, the Lordis between me and thee for ever ,"namely, a witness and judge in case oneof us two should break the covenant (vid., Gen 31:48-49). This is impliedin the words, without there being any necessity to assume that עד had dropped out of the text. " The word "refers not merely to the signagreed upon, but to the whole matter, including the renewal of the bond offriendship.

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 20:24-34

David thereupon concealed himself in the field, whilst Jonathan, as agreedupon, endeavoured to apologize for his absence from the king's table.

1Sa 20:24-25

On the new moon's day Saul sat at table, and as always, athis seat by the wall , i.e., at the top, just as, in eastern lands at the presentday, the place of honour is the seat in the corner (see HarmarBeobachtungen ii. pp. 66ff.). "And Jonathan rose up, and Abner seatedhimself by the side of Saul, and David's place remained empty." Thedifficult passage, "And Jonathan rose up," etc., can hardly be understoodin any other way than as signifying that, when Abner entered, Jonathanrose from his seat by the side of Saul, and gave up the place to Abner, inwhich case all that is wanting is an account of the place to which Jonathanmoved. Every other attempted explanation is exposed to much graverdifficulties. The suggestion made by Gesenius , that the cop. ו should besupplied before אבנר , and ויּשׁב referred to Jonathan("and Jonathan rose up and sat down, and Abner [sat down] by the side ofSaul"), as in the Syriac, is open to this objection, that in addition to thenecessity of supplying ו , it is impossible to see why Jonathan shouldhave risen up for the purpose of sitting down again. The rendering "andJonathan came,"which is the one adopted by Maurer and De Wette,cannot be philologically sustained; inasmuch as, although קוּם isused to signify rise up, in the sense of the occurrence of important events,or the appearance of celebrated of persons, it never means simply "tocome."And lastly, the conjecture of Thenius, that ויּקם should be altered into ויקדּם , according to the senseless rendering ofthe lxx, προέφθασε τὸν Ἰονάθαν , is overthrown by the fact, that whilst קדּם does indeed mean to anticipate or come to meet, it never means tosit in front of, i.e., opposite to a person.

1Sa 20:26

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

1Sa 20:27-29

But on the second day, the day after the new moon (lit., themorrow after the new moon, the second day : השּׁני is anominative, and to be joined to ויהי , and not a genitivebelonging to החדשׁ ), when David was absent from table again,Saul said to Jonathan, " Why is the son of Jesse not come to meat, neitheryesterday nor to-day? "Whereupon Jonathan answered, as arranged withDavid (compare 1Sa 20:28 and 1Sa 20:29 with 1Sa 20:6). "And my brother, he hathcommanded me," i.e., ordered me to come. צוּה as in Exo 6:13,and אחי , the elder brother, who was then at the head of thefamily, and arranged the sacrificial meal.

1Sa 20:30-31

Saul was greatly enraged at this, and said to Jonathan, " Sonof a perverse woman ( נעות is a participle, Niph . fem. from עוה ) of rebellion ,"- i.e., son of a perverse and rebellious woman(an insult offered to the mother, and therefore so much the greater to theson), hence the meaning really is, "Thou perverse, rebellious fellow,"- " do Inot know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame, andto the shame of thy mother's nakedness? " בּחר , to choose aperson out of love, to take pleasure in a person; generally construed with בּ pers ., here with ל , although many Codd. have בּ here also. " For as long asthe son of Jesse liveth upon the earth, thou and thy kingdom (kingship,throne) will not stand ."Thus Saul evidently suspected David as his rival,who would either wrest the government from him, or at any rate after hisdeath from his son. "Now send and fetch him to me, for he is a child ofdeath," i.e., he has deserved to die, and shall be put to death.

1Sa 20:32-34

When Jonathan replied, " My father, why shall he die? whathas he done? "Saul was so enraged that he hurled his javelin at Jonathan(cf. 1Sa 18:11). Thus Jonathan saw that his father had firmly resolvedto put David to death, and rose up from the table in fierce anger, and didnot eat that day; for he was grieved concerning David, because his fatherhad done him shame. כּלה is a substantive in the sense ofunalterable resolution, like the verb in 1Sa 20:9. השּׁני בּיום־החדשׁ , on the second day of the new moon or month.

Keil-Delitzsch: 1Sa 20:35-42

The next morning Jonathan made David acquainted with what hadoccurred, by means of the sign agreed upon with David. The account ofthis, and of the meeting between Jonathan and David which followed, isgiven very concisely, only the main points being touched upon. In themorning (after what had occurred) Jonathan went to the field, דּוד למועד , either "at the time agreed upon with David," or"to the meeting with David," or perhaps better still, " according to theappointment (agreement) with David ,"and a small boy with him.

1Sa 20:36

To the latter he said, namely as soon as they had come to thefield, Run, get the arrows which I shoot. The boy ran, and he shot off thearrows, "to go out beyond him," i.e., so that the arrows flew farther thanthe boy had run. The form חצי for חץ only occurs inconnection with disjunctive accents; beside the present chapter (1Sa 20:36,1Sa 20:37, 1Sa 20:38, Chethibh ) we find it again in 2Ki 9:24. The singular is usedhere with indefinite generality, as the historian did not consider itnecessary to mention expressly, after what he had previously written, thatJonathan shot off three arrows one after another.

1Sa 20:37-39

When the boy came to the place of the shot arrow (i.e., to theplace to which the arrow had flown), Jonathan called after him, " See, thearrow is (lies) away from thee, farther off ;"and again, "Quickly, haste, donot stand still," that he might not see David, who was somewhere near;and the boy picked up the arrow and came to his lord. The Chethibh החצי is evidently the original reading, and the singular is to beunderstood as in 1Sa 20:37; the Keri החצּים is an emendation,according to the meaning of the words. The writer here introduces theremark in 1Sa 20:39, that the boy knew nothing of what had been arrangedbetween Jonathan and David.

1Sa 20:40

Jonathan then gave the boy his things (bow, arrows, and quiver),and sent him with them to the town, that he might be able to conversewith David for a few seconds after his departure, and take leave of himunobserved.

1Sa 20:41

When the boy had gone, David rose (from his hiding-place) fromthe south side, fell down upon his face to the ground, and bowed threetimes (before Jonathan); they then kissed each other, and wept for oneanother, "till David wept strongly," i.e., to such a degree that David weptvery loud. הנּגב מאצל , "from the side of the south," which is the expression used to describe David's hiding-place, according toits direction in relation to the place where Jonathan was standing, has notbeen correctly rendered by any of the early translators except Aquila and Jerome . In the Septuagint, the Chaldee, the Syriac, and the Arabic, thestatement in 1Sa 20:19 is repeated, simply because the translators could not seethe force of הנּגב מאצל , although it is intelligibleenough in relation to what follows, according to which David fled fromthence southwards to Nob .

1Sa 20:42

All that is given of the conversation between the two friends isthe parting word spoken by Jonathan to David: " Go in peace. What wetwo have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between meand thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever: "sc., let it stand, orlet us abide by it. The clause contains an aposiopesis, which may beaccounted for from Jonathan's deep emotion, and in which the apodosismay be gathered from the sense. For it is evident, from a comparison of 1Sa 20:23, that the expression "for ever"must be understood as forming part ofthe oath. - 1Sa 21:1. David then set out upon his journey, andJonathan returned to the town. This verse ought, strictly speaking, to formthe conclusion of 1 Samuel 20.

(Note: In our English version it does; but in the Hebrew, which isfollowed here, it forms the opening verse of 1Sa 21:1-15. In the expositionof the following chapter it has been thought better to follow thenumbering of the verses in our version rather than that of theoriginal, although the latter is conformed to the Hebrew. - Tr.)

The subject to " arose "is David; not because Jonathan was the last onespoken of (Thenius), but because the following words, "and Jonathancame,"etc., are in evident antithesis to "he arose and went."

Constable: 1Sa 16:1--31:13

IV. SAUL AND DAVID 1 Sam. 16--31

The basic theme in Samuel, that blessing, and in particular fertility of all kinds, follows from faithful commitment to God's revealed will, continues in this section. However another major motif now becomes more prominent. We might call it the theme of the Lord's anointed.

"The theological thread running through Samuel and Kings is God's choice of a leader to represent Him as He implements His covenants with Israel."¹⁶⁸

Saul had been God's anointed vice-regent, but with Saul's rejection David began to move into that position. These chapters record the gradual transition and slow transformation of the nation as the Israelites and others increasingly realized that David was now God's anointed. Saul remained the Lord's anointed as long as he lived. Part of the reason David succeeded was he recognized this and related to Saul accordingly. However, David too was God's anointed though God was still preparing him to take leadership and mount the throne. While the hero of this last half of 1 Samuel is David, Saul is also prominent. Saul declined as the old anointed as David arose as the new anointed.

"There will be many twists in the story of David's progress towards the throne, and not a few crisis-points, yet all is told in the knowledge that God can put his men where he wants them to be, whether the route is direct, or ever so circuitous."¹⁶⁹

Chronology of David's Life170
Event	Date	Age	Reference
Birth	1041	0	2 Sam. 5:4-5
Anointing by Samuel	1029	12	1 Sam. 16:1-13
Defeat of Goliath	1024	17	1 Sam. 17
Exile from Saul	1020-1011	21-30	1 Sam. 21-31
Anointing as King over Judah	1011	30	2 Sam. 2:1-4
Anointing as King over all Israel	1004	37	2 Sam. 5:1-3
Philistines Wars	1004	37	2 Sam. 5:17-25
Conquest of Jerusalem	1004	37	2 Sam. 5:6-10
Mephibosheth's Move to Jerusalem	996	45	2 Sam. 9:1-13
The Three Year Famine	996-993	45-48	2 Sam. 21:1-14
The Ammonite Wars	993-990	48-51	2 Sam. 10-12
Adultery and Murder	992	49	2 Sam. 11
Birth of Solomon	991	50	2 Sam. 12:24-25
Rape of Tamar	987	54	2 Sam. 13:1-22
Death of Amnon	985	56	2 Sam. 13:23-36
Exile of Absalom	985-982	56-59	2 Sam. 13:37-39
Absalom's Return to Jerusalem	982-980	59-61	2 Sam. 14:21-24
Construction of Palace	980-978	61-63	1 Chron. 15:1
Construction of Tabernacle	977	64	1 Chron. 15:1
Move of Ark to Jerusalem	977	64	2 Sam. 6:12-19
Absalom's Rebellion and David's Exile	976	65	2 Sam. 15-18
Rebellion of Sheba	976	65	2 Sam. 20:1-22
The Census	975	66	2 Sam. 24:1-17
Purchase of Temple Site	973	68	2 Sam. 24:18-25
The Davidic Covenant	973	68	2 Sam. 7
Co-regency with Solomon	973-971	68-70	1 Chron. 23:1
Rebellion of Adonijah	972	69	1 Kings 1:5-37
Coronation of Solomon	971	70	1 Chron. 29:22-23
Death	971	70	1 Kings 2:10-11

Constable: 1Sa 20:1-42

2. Jonathan's advocacy for David ch. 20

This chapter records Jonathan's last attempt to reconcile Saul to David. The emphasis is on the hardening of Saul's heart that God allowed to take place since the king refused to repent genuinely.

Constable: 1Sa 20:12-17

Jonathan and David's long-range covenant 20:12-17

Jonathan appealed to the Lord in an oath indicating the seriousness of the situation (vv. 12, 13). He prayed that God would be with David as he had been with Saul, namely, as Israel's king (v. 13). These verses indicate clearly that Jonathan believed David would someday be king and subdue his enemies including Saul (vv. 13-15; cf. 13:14). He had come to appreciate Yahweh's loyal love (Heb. hesed, vv. 14, 15) and now called on David to deal similarly with his descendants in the future. He secured a promise from David that when he reigned he would protect Jonathan's family. "Lovingkindness" (Heb. hesed, vv. 14, 15) is a covenant term of commitment (v. 16, 42; cf. Deut. 7:7-9). Previously David and Jonathan had made a covenant that Jonathan would yield the throne to David and support him (18:3-4). Now David promised not to kill Jonathan's descendants after David became king. It was common in the ancient Near East for kings who began a new dynasty to kill all the descendants of the former king to keep them from rising up and trying to reclaim the throne. Jonathan called on God to require an accounting for antagonism at the hands of David's enemies (v. 16). This was the second vow that David had made after the one in which he pledged his love for Jonathan personally (v. 17; cf. 18:3-4).

Constable: 1Sa 20:18-23

The plan for communicating Saul's intentions to David 20:18-23

Saul would miss David at his feast not only because his seat would be vacant but because warriors normally expressed their support for their king by eating with him at important meals (v. 18). David's absence would have raised a question in Saul's mind about David's commitment to him. The writer did not identify the exact place where David had previously hidden himself on some eventful day (v. 19). Evidently it was near the stone Ezel, a site unknown today but well-known then. Probably Jonathan chose this place to communicate with David because it was convenient and secure, evidently near Gibeah.

The shooting of arrows was probably just a practical way to signal David. Jonathan reminded David of their agreement as they parted (v. 23; cf. Gen. 31:48-53).²²³

"Friendships are one of the most enriching of life's experiences: how poor is the man or woman who is friendless! Friends enrich life because they give, without counting the cost. Jonathan was a man who gave to David more than he received; and in doing so he showed how different he was from the typical king described in 8:11-17, whose sole function was to take. Life has its givers and its takers; Jonathan was supremely a giver--and David, though destined to become a king, persistently declined to take anything away from Saul. He patiently waited for God to give him the crown of Israel."²²⁴

Constable: 1Sa 20:24-34

Saul's anger over David's absence 20:24-34

Saul concluded at first that David had not come to the new moon sacrificial meal because he was unclean (cf. Lev. 7:20-21; 15:16). His continued absence required an explanation, which Saul looked to David's friend to provide. Saul hated David so much he could not bring himself to use his name (vv. 27, 31). "The son of . . ." was a mild insult (cf. 10:11).²²⁵ By insulting Jonathan's mother Saul was intensifying his insult (v. 30). Today's English Version translated Saul's epithet, "You bastard!" The New Jerusalem Bible rendered it, "You son of a rebellious slut!" Jonathan had chosen David as his friend to his own shame (v. 30) in the sense that because he had made him his friend, rather than killing him as Saul wanted him to do, David would take Jonathan's place as the king of Israel. That would be a shame for Jonathan. Jonathan had chosen David to the shame of his mother's nakedness in that Jonathan's conception and birth were useless if David replaced him. Jonathan would fail to achieve the purpose for which he had been born, in Saul's way of thinking (v. 31). Saul perceived David as a threat to his continuing dynasty, not just to his personal rule. Clearly Saul was rejecting and opposing God's will that his reign and his dynasty would not endure. Saul said he would kill David so David could not do what God had said he would do.

Jonathan's ambitions were not the same as Saul's. He wanted God's will to succeed more than he wanted to become Israel's king. Therefore he interceded for David again (v. 32; cf. 19:4). Saul, exasperated by what he interpreted as Jonathan's selfless folly, tried to execute David's advocate as he had formerly tried to kill David himself (v. 33; cf. 18:11; 19:10). This brush with death finally convinced Jonathan that David had been right about Saul's intentions after all (cf. v. 3). It also convinced him to get out of the king's presence. Jonathan departed in hot anger because of Saul's attitude toward David and because of Saul's attitude toward himself. Saul had said David would not allow Jonathan to rule, but Saul himself almost prevented that from happening by attacking the crown prince. Jonathan's departure from Saul's table symbolized his departure from his father's fellowship.

Constable: 1Sa 20:35-42

David's final departure from Gibeah 20:35-42

The next morning Jonathan proceeded to communicate Saul's intentions to David in the way they had previously planned. Jonathan probably used a very young boy as his arrow retriever so the lad would not ask embarrassing questions or figure out what was happening. God permitted David and Jonathan to say good-bye face to face. They had anticipated that such a parting might be impossible. David gave proper respect to Jonathan as the king's son even though they were best friends (v. 41). Saul's rebellion against God's will had made their companionship impossible. They parted reminding themselves of the commitments they had made to each other and to their descendants (v. 42; cf. vv. 16, 23; 2 Sam. 9). David and Jonathan decided not to see each other again for their mutual protection (but cf. 23:16-18).

This chapter reveals that both Saul and Jonathan realized that David was the Lord's anointed who would one day replace Saul. However, their responses to this situation were opposite because their desires were opposite. Saul wanted to see his own plans fulfilled, but Jonathan wanted to see God's will done. Jonathan ended up choosing David, his natural rival, in preference over Saul, his natural father. His sister Michal had made the same choice. David later kept his covenant with Jonathan (2 Sam. 9:1) showing that he was a covenant-keeping individual similar to Yahweh. This is another evidence that David was a man after God's own heart (13:14).

The main character in this pericope is Jonathan. His attitude to God's will contrasts positively with Saul's attitude. Rather than opposing God's will and His anointed as Saul did, Jonathan humbled himself before God's will and supported the Lord's anointed, David. Jonathan faced a terrible tension since Saul's attitude divided Jonathan's loyalty. He solved this problem by putting God's will first. He submitted to the domestic authority of his father and to the civil authority of his king by obeying Saul except when obedience to Saul conflicted with obedience to God (cf. 1 Pet. 2:13-17).

Guzik: 1Sa 20:1-42

1 Samuel 20 - Jonathan's Final Attempt to Reconcile His Father and David

A. David, coming from Naioth, meets Jonathan.

1. (1-4) David asks Jonathan about Saul's intentions towards him; Jonathan promises his help to David.

Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went and said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?" So Jonathan said to him, "By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!" Then David took an oath again, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." So Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you."

a. Then David fled from Naioth: Why? Why did David leave Naioth? The Spirit of God protected David there in a powerful way. He could have simply stayed there for however long it took Saul to give up or die. Yet David left for a good reason: He wanted to know if Saul's heart had changed, and if there was still a chance to reconcile with King Saul.

b. When David left, he went to see his close friend Jonathan. Jonathan was Saul's son, and the crown prince of Israel. Everyone thought he would be the next son - everyone except David and Jonathan. Jonathan knew that David was called by God to be the next king, and he was willing to step aside so that he would not be resisting the will of the LORD.

c. What have I done? We should see in this that David is testing Jonathan's loyalty. Of course, he wants to know what Saul thinks, but even more important to David is to know what Jonathan thinks. In asking, "What have I done?" David wants to know if Jonathan has come to a place of agreement with his father Saul.

d. So Jonathan said to him, "By no means!" This assures David that Jonathan is still his loyal friend, and that Jonathan hasn't bought into Saul's lies about David. Jonathan also assures David that he will protect him, by warning David of Saul's intentions.

i. Why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so! Apparently, David wondered why Jonathan didn't tell him about the attempted arrest at Naioth. Jonathan expresses astonishment that his father did not tell him, but assures David of his heart towards him.

ii. Why did Jonathan seem slow to believe that his father still wanted to kill David? "For Jonathan gave credit to his father's oath, chap. xix. 6; and the worthiest minds are least suspicious and most charitable in their opinions of others." (Poole <biblio.htm>)

e. There is but a step between me and death: This reveals David's discouragement. He knows that Saul has attempted to kill him many times, and it seems that Saul will not quit until David is gone. David feels that his death is inevitable, and that he is walking on a slippery plank over a great canyon.

i. "Poor David found the doing of anything or of nothing dangerous alike; such was the malice of his enemy, who was captain of the devil's sworn swordmen." (Trapp <Trapp.htm>)

f. Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you: Jonathan continues to reassure David, bringing encouragement to a discouraged man.

i. Jonathan's approach is to encourage David and to offer help to him. Conceivably, he could have said, "Where is your faith, brother? Why aren't you just trusting God?" Instead, Jonathan knew David's heart was pointed in the right direction, and he just offered to help.

2. (5-11) David proposes to test Saul's attitude.

And David said to Jonathan, "Indeed tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go, that I may hide in the field until the third day at evening. If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked permission of me that he might run over to Bethlehem, his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.' If he says thus: 'It is well,' your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, then be sure that evil is determined by him. Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?" But Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you?" Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly?" And Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." So both of them went out into the field.

a. If your father misses me: David asks Jonathan to observe Saul's reaction to David's absence at an important feast held monthly for the high officials of state. Apparently, Saul hoped that David would be at this feast as expected, and David wondered how Saul would react to his presence. Would he take the opportunity to reconcile with David? Or, would he take the opportunity to kill him?

i. The New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat: Special sacrifices were commanded for the new moon (Numbers 28:11-15).

b. If there is iniquity in me: Again, David seems somewhat shaken by the fact that Jonathan did not tell him about the attempted arrest at Naioth. David is asking Jonathan, "Am I in the wrong here? Are you still behind me?" Essentially, David says "If you really are working for your father, and agree with him that I deserve to die, then just kill me right now!"

i. We have to see all of this from David's perspective. He remembers that Jonathan's support for him is challenged by the fact that his father is against David. He also remembers that Jonathan's support for him is challenged by the fact that Jonathan is next in line for the throne, and might perhaps have an interest in being against David.

ii. Jonathan's response is the same as in 1 Samuel 20:2; he didn't know that Saul set out to get David in Naioth, though previously to that point, his father would tell him everything.

c. Far be it from you! Jonathan, with encouragement, tells David to put away his doubts about Jonathan's loyalty. Jonathan senses that David is in a vulnerable place, and he wants to give him encouragement in the midst of it.

d. Who will tell me? David now poses a practical problem. If Saul has determined evil against David, and Jonathan intends to warn him, how will he do it? How will Jonathan get the message to David?

B. Jonathan's agreement.

1. (12-13) Jonathan vows to find out the state of his father's heart for David.

Then Jonathan said to David: "The LORD God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you, may the LORD do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.

a. When I have sounded out my father: Jonathan will find out his father's heart, and will report it to David, if say if it is good or bad towards David.

b. And send you away, that you may go in safety: Jonathan knows that if his father Saul intends evil against David, it means that David must go away. He would not be welcome again in the palace, and he would not be safe again at home. By giving David early warning of this, he would help David go in safety.

c. And the LORD will be with you as He has been with my father: Jonathan wants to give David more than a warning. He wants to give him encouragement also. "David, even if you must leave the palace and your home behind, and flee as a fugitive, the LORD will be with you. You can be sure of it."

i. We almost might think that Jonathan is being sarcastic when he says, "as He has been with my father," because one might think that the LORD was really against Saul instead of for him. But Jonathan had enough wisdom in the LORD to know that the LORD was really for Saul, because the LORD was trying to lead Saul to repentance.

ii. In the spiritual relationship between David and Jonathan, sometimes David was stronger spiritually, and sometimes Jonathan was stronger. But there was a bond in the LORD between these men that could not be broken.

2. (14-17) In response, Jonathan makes David commit himself in a covenant.

"And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die; but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Let the LORD require it at the hand of David's enemies." Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

a. You shall not cut off your kindness for my house forever: Jonathan was aware of the political dynamic between the family of David and the family of Jonathan. In that day, when one royal house replaced another, it was common for the new royal house to kill all the potential rulers from the old royal house. Jonathan knew that one day, David and his descendants would rule over Israel, and he wants David to promise that David and his descendants will not kill or mistreat the descendants of Jonathan.

b. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: Jonathan and David agreed to care for one another. Jonathan agreed to care for David in the face of Saul's threat, and David agreed to care for Jonathan and his family in the future. David fulfilled this promise to Jonathan (2 Samuel 9:1-8 and 21:7).

3. (18-23) Jonathan proposes a signal to inform David of Saul's reaction.

Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel. Then I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target; and there I will send a lad, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I expressly say to him, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them and come'; then, as the LORD lives, there is safety for you and no harm. But if I say thus to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you'; go your way, for the LORD has sent you away. And as for the matter which you and I have spoken of, indeed the LORD be between you and me forever."

a. I will shoot three arrows: After Jonathan learns his father's heart and intention towards David, he will communicate to David through a signal. Jonathan will go out to take target practice, and where he shoots the arrows will tell David the answer.

b. The arrows will bring one of two messages. Either Saul's heart has changed towards David, and there is safety for you and no harm, or Saul is still determined to kill David, and the LORD has sent you away.

i. This was a crucial time in David's life. Either he would be welcomed back to the palace and his home, or he would be a fugitive until Saul gave up the hunt for David. A lot was riding on the message brought through a few arrows!

C. Saul's settled hatred towards David.

1. (24-34) Saul is enraged when he learns of David's absence.

Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast. Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean." And it happened the next day, the second day of the month, that David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, either yesterday or today?" So Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem. And he said, 'Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers.' Therefore he has not come to the king's table." Then Saul's anger was aroused against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die." And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why should he be killed? What has he done?" Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.

a. But David's place was empty: David was expected to be at this special feast of the New Moon, and so he was conspicuous by his absence. At first, this did not trouble Saul greatly, because he thought, "Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean." Ceremonial uncleanliness might cause a person to miss a feast such as this, but the ceremonial uncleanliness would only last a day (Leviticus 22:3-7). So, when it happened the next day . . . that David's place was empty, Saul demanded an explanation.

i. Meyer on the son of Jesse: "Speaking of him derisively as 'the son of Jesse,' thus accentuating his lowly birth, and ignoring the relationship that bound him to the royal family."

b. Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem." Jonathan is covering for David, trying to give Saul a plausible - and truthful - explanation for David's absence.

i. "It seems probably that he went first to Bethlehem, as he bade Jonathan to tell his father, ver. 6, and thence returned to the field, when the occasion required; else we must charge him with a downright lie, which ought not to be imagined (without any apparent cause) concerning so good a man." (Poole <biblio.htm>)

c. Saul's anger was aroused . . . "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!" Jonathan knew from this response that Saul's heart was settled on evil against David. If Saul's heart was different towards David, he might have been disappointed that he wasn't there, but he wouldn't have been furious.

i. Poole on to the shame of your mother's nakedness: "Men will conclude, that thy mother was a whore, and thou a bastard; and that thou hast no royal blood in thy veins, that canst so tamely give up thy crown to so contemptible a person."

d. In his anger, Saul accused Jonathan of siding with David (you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame). He tried to encourage Jonathan's sense of hurt and self-interest against David (as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom). He tried to enlist Jonathan's help in killing David (bring him to me, for he shall surely die).

i. These were "Taunts that were intended to instil into Jonathan's heart the poison which was working in his own." (Meyer <Meyer.htm>)

ii. "Thus he grossly mistakes the cause of Jonathan's loss of the kingdom, which was not David's art, but Saul's sin; and vainly endeavours to prevent God's irrevocable sentence." (Poole <biblio.htm>)

e. He shall surely die: Certainly, this was Saul's intention, despite his previous oath (As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed, 1 Samuel 19:6). Apparently, Saul believed oaths were for other people, but not for him! Saul lived by what Trapp called "That Machiavellian maxim . . . It is for tradesmen, and not for kings to keep their oaths." Yet, despite Saul's intentions, David would not die at the hands of Saul or any other enemy. Man proposes, but God disposes.

f. Jonathan responds by defending not only David, but right in this cause: Why should he be killed? What has he done? Jonathan's support of David wasn't a blind support; it was a support based on what was right before the LORD. Jonathan's support of David enraged Saul, and Saul cast a spear at him to kill him. This shows how deep Saul's hatred of David is; he will kill his own son for siding with David.

i. "Jonathan made one vain attempt to reason with the furious monarch; he might as well have tried to arrest the swelling of Jordan in the time of flood." (Meyer <Meyer.htm>)

ii. Jonathan saw this at once; he knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. This made Jonathan very angry, and he refused to continue participating in the feast.

2. (35-40) Jonathan tells David bout Saul's state of mind through the pre-arranged signal of the arrows.

And so it was, in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad was with him. Then he said to his lad, "Now run, find the arrows which I shoot." As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. When the lad had come to the place where the arrow was which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried out after the lad and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?" And Jonathan cried out after the lad, "Make haste, hurry, do not delay!" So Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and came back to his master. But the lad did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter. Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city."

a. Is not the arrow beyond you? In 1 Samuel 20:21-22, Jonathan and David determined that if the arrows were shot at a shorter distance, then David could know that Saul's heart was favorable to him. If the arrows were shot further beyond, David could know that Saul's heart was still hard and he determined to destroy David.

i. It took courage for Jonathan to communicate with David, even secretly - because he knew that if his father became aware of it, he would focus his murderous rage against Jonathan again. There was something noble in Jonathan's commitment to David as a friend.

ii. "But there is something still nobler - when one dares in any company to avow his loyalty to the Lord Jesus. Like David, he is now in obscurity and disrepute; his name is not popular; his gospel is misrepresented; his followers are subjected to rebuke and scorn. These are days when to stand up for anything more than mere conventional religion must cost something; and for this reason let us never flinch." (Meyer <Meyer.htm>)

b. A small thing - the signal of a single arrow - told David his whole life was changed. He would no longer be welcome at the palace. He would no longer be welcome among the army of Israel. He would no longer be able to go home. David now knew he would have to live as a fugitive, on the run from an angry, jealous king determined to destroy him.

i. Sometimes our lives can turn on a small thing. One night of carelessness may change a girl's life forever. One night with the wrong crowd may give a boy an arrest record. It often times does not seem fair that so much in life should turn on small moments, but a lifetime is made of nothing but many small moments!

ii. "You have hoped against hope; you have tried to keep your position; you have done your duty, pleaded your cause, sought the intercession of your friends, prayed, wept, agonized. But it is all in vain; the arrows' flight proves you must go wither you may." (Meyer <Meyer.htm>)

3. (41-42) The tearful farewell of David and Jonathan.

As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so. Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, 'May the LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.'" So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

a. They wept together: David and Jonathan loved each other, and had a strong bond of friendship. But David couldn't stay, and Jonathan couldn't go. They remembered their bond of friendship back in 1 Samuel 18:1-4, when Jonathan gave David his armor and princely robe. It was Jonathan's way of saying, "David, I recognize that you are God's choice to be the next king, not me. I'll lay aside my right to the throne, and help you take it. This armor of a prince, and the robe of a prince, belongs to you now, not me." Jonathan and David probably envisioned working together, as partners, as friends, both before and after the time David became king. But now all that was gone, so they wept together.

b. But David more so: If Jonathan had reason to weep, David had more so. The pain of being apart was bad enough, but it was worse for David because he was cut off from everything, and destined to live for many years the life of a fugitive.

i. "Behind you is the sunny morning, before you a lowering sky; behind you the blessed enjoyment of friendship, wife, home, royal favor, and popular adulation, before you an outcast's life." (Meyer <Meyer.htm>)

c. Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD: Jonathan knew he might never see David again. In fact, David and Jonathan will only meet once more, shortly before Jonathan's death. But David now left for a life of hiding, secrecy, and danger. But Jonathan could send David away in peace, because they have both have agreed to honor each other not only in life, but to honor each other's families beyond their own lifetimes.

i. Jonathan might have been threatened by David, but instead he loved him and was loyal to him. Jonathan, with his excellent character before God, served an important role in David's life. David might have started to think that Saul was rejected simply because he was wicked, and David was chosen simply because he was godly. But if God just wanted a godly man to be king, why not Jonathan? God's choice of David was a reminder that God has His own reasons for choosing, reasons we can't always figure out.

d. So he arose and departed: David will not return to "normal life" until Saul is dead and David is king. This is a pretty bleak road for David to walk, but it is God's road for him.

i. Was David in God's will? How can anyone set out on such a bleak road and be in the will of God? Because God often has His people spend at least some time on a bleak road, and He appoints some of His favorites to spend a lot of time on that road - think of Job, Joseph, Paul, and even Jesus.

ii. This bleak road is important in David's life, because if God will put David in a place where people must depend on him, God will teach David to depend upon God alone. Not himself, not Saul, not Jonathan, not anyone except God

iii. This bleak road is important in David's life, because if David will be safe now and promoted to king later, David must learn to let God be his defense and his promoter.

iv. This bleak road is important in David's life, because if David is to be set in such a great position of authority, David must learn to submit to God's authority, even if it is in a man like Saul. David could have decided to challenge Saul's authority, thinking "I'll stay around here and gather loyal people away from Saul and to myself. I'll start a campaign to bring me to the throne." But David wouldn't; he would submit to Saul's authority, trust the Lord, and just leave."

v. "Let God empty you out that He may save you from becoming spiritually stale, and lead you ever onward. He is always calling us to pass beyond the thing we know into the unknown. A throne is God's purpose for you; a cross is God's path for you; faith is God's plan for you." (Redpath <Redpath.htm>)

© 2001 David Guzik - No distribution beyond personal use without permission

Introduction / Outline

JFB: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF SAMUEL. The two were, by the ancient Jews, conjoined so as to make one book, and in that form could be called the Book of Samuel with more propriety than now, the second being wholly occupied with the relation of transactions that did not take place till after the death of that eminent judge. Accordingly, in the Septuagint and the Vulgate, it is called the First and Second Books of Kings. The early portion of the First Book, down to the end of the twenty-fourth chapter, was probably written by Samuel; while the rest of it and the whole of the Second, are commonly ascribed to Nathan and Gad, founding the opinion on 1Ch 29:29. Commentators, however, are divided about this, some supposing that the statements in 1Sa 2:26; 1Sa 3:1, indicate the hand of the judge himself, or a contemporary; while some think, from 1Sa 6:18; 1Sa 12:5; 1Sa 27:6, that its composition must be referred to a later age. It is probable, however, that these supposed marks of an after-period were interpolations of Ezra. This uncertainty, however, as to the authorship does not affect the inspired authority of the book, which is indisputable, being quoted in the New Testament (1Sa 13:14 in Act 13:22, and 2Sa 7:14 in Heb 1:5), as well as in many of the Psalms.

JFB: 1 Samuel (Outline)

• OF ELKANAH AND HIS TWO WIVES. (1Sa 1:1-8)
• HANNAH'S PRAYER. (1Sa 1:9-18)
• SAMUEL BORN. (1Sa 1:20)
• HANNAH'S SONG IN THANKFULNESS TO GOD. (1Sa 2:1-11)
• THE SIN OF ELI'S SONS. (1Sa 2:12-17)
• SAMUEL'S MINISTRY. (1Sa 2:18-26)
• A PROPHECY AGAINST ELI'S HOUSE. (1Sa 2:27-35)
• THE LORD APPEARS TO SAMUEL IN A VISION. (1Sa 3:1-10)
• ISRAEL OVERCOME BY THE PHILISTINES. (1Sa 4:1-11)
• ELI HEARING THE TIDINGS. (1Sa 4:12-22)
• THE PHILISTINES BRING THE ARK INTO THE HOUSE OF DAGON. (1Sa 5:1-2)
• DAGON FALLS DOWN. (1Sa 5:3-5)
• THE PHILISTINES ARE SMITTEN WITH EMERODS. (1Sa 5:6-12)
• THE PHILISTINES COUNSEL HOW TO SEND BACK THE ARK. (1Sa 6:1-9)
• THE ARK AT KIRJATH-JEARIM. (1Sa 7:1-2)
• THE ISRAELITES, THROUGH SAMUEL'S INFLUENCE, SOLEMNLY REPENT AT MIZPEH. (1Sa 7:3-6)
• WHILE SAMUEL PRAYS, THE PHILISTINES ARE DISCOMFITED. (1Sa 7:7-14)
• OCCASIONED BY THE ILL-GOVERNMENT OF SAMUEL'S SONS, THE ISRAELITES ASK A KING. (1Sa. 8:1-18)
• SAUL, DESPAIRING TO FIND HIS FATHER'S ASSES, COMES TO SAMUEL. (1Sa 9:1-14)
• GOD REVEALS TO SAMUEL SAUL'S COMING, AND HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE KINGDOM. (1Sa 9:15-27)
• SAMUEL ANOINTS SAUL, AND CONFIRMS HIM BY THE PREDICTION OF THREE SIGNS. (1Sa. 10:1-27)
• NAHASH OFFERS THEM OF JABESH-GILEAD A REPROACHFUL CONDITION. (1Sa 11:1-4)
• THEY SEND TO SAUL, AND ARE DELIVERED. (1Sa 11:5-11)
• SAUL CONFIRMED KING. (1Sa 11:12-15)
• SAMUEL TESTIFIES HIS INTEGRITY. (1Sa 12:1-5)
• HE TERRIFIES THEM WITH THUNDER IN HARVEST-TIME. (1Sa 12:17-25)
• SAUL'S SELECTED BAND. (1Sa 13:1-2)
• HE CALLS THE HEBREWS TO GILGAL AGAINST THE PHILISTINES. (1Sa 13:3-4)
• THE PHILISTINES' GREAT HOST. (1Sa 13:5)
• THE ISRAELITES' DISTRESS. (1Sa 13:6-8)
• SAUL, WEARY OF WAITING FOR SAMUEL, SACRIFICES. (1Sa 13:9-16)
• JONATHAN MIRACULOUSLY SMITES THE PHILISTINES' GARRISON. (1Sa 14:1-14)
• SAUL SENT TO DESTROY AMALEK. (1Sa 15:1-6)
• HE SPARES AGAG AND THE BEST OF THE SPOIL. (1Sa 15:7-9)
• GOD REJECTS HIS FOR DISOBEDIENCE. (1Sa 15:10-11)
• SAMUEL SENT BY GOD TO BETHLEHEM. (1Sa 16:1-10)
• HE ANOINTS DAVID. (1Sa 16:11-14)
• THE ISRAELITES AND PHILISTINES BEING READY TO BATTLE. (1Sa 17:1-3)
• GOLIATH CHALLENGES A COMBAT. (1Sa 17:4-11)
• DAVID ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE, AND SLAYS HIM. (1Sa. 17:12-58)
• JONATHAN LOVES DAVID. (1Sa 18:1-4)
• SAUL ENVIES HIS PRAISE. (1Sa 18:5-9)
• SEEKS TO KILL HIM. (1Sa 18:10-12)
• FEARS HIM FOR HIS GOOD SUCCESS. (1Sa 18:13-16)
• HE OFFERS HIM HIS DAUGHTER FOR A SNARE. (1Sa 18:17-21)
• JONATHAN DISCLOSES HIS FATHER'S PURPOSE TO KILL DAVID. (1Sa 19:1-7)
• SAUL'S MALICIOUS RAGE BREAKS OUT AGAINST DAVID. (1Sa 19:8-17)
• DAVID FLEES TO SAMUEL. (1Sa 19:18-23)
• SAUL PROPHESIES. (1Sa 19:24)
• DAVID CONSULTS WITH JONATHAN FOR HIS SAFETY. (1Sa 20:1-10)
• THEIR COVENANT RENEWED BY OATH. (1Sa 20:11-23)
• SAUL, MISSING DAVID, SEEKS TO KILL JONAHAN. (1Sa. 20:24-40)
• JONATHAN AND DAVID LOVINGLY PART. (1Sa 20:41-42)
• DAVID, AT NOB, OBTAINS OF AHIMELECH HALLOWED BREAD. (1Sa 21:1-7)
• HE TAKES GOLIATH'S SWORD. (1Sa 21:9)
• AT GATH HE FEIGNS HIMSELF MAD. (1Sa 21:10-15)
• DAVID'S KINDRED AND OTHERS RESORT TO HIM AT ADULLAM. (1Sa 22:1-8)
• DOEG ACCUSES AHIMELECH. (1Sa 22:9-16)
• SAUL COMMANDS TO KILL THE PRIESTS. (1Sa 22:17-19)
• ABIATHAR ESCAPES AND FLEES AFTER DAVID. (1Sa 22:20-23)
• DAVID RESCUES KEILAH. (1Sa 23:1-6)
• SAUL'S COMING, AND TREACHERY OF THE KEILITES. (1Sa 23:7-13)
• DAVID ESCAPES TO ZIPH. (1Sa 23:14-18)
• SAUL PURSUES HIM. (1Sa 23:19-29)
• DAVID IN A CAVE AT ENGEDI CUTS OFF SAUL'S SKIRT, BUT SPARES HIS LIFE. (1Sa 24:1-7)
• HE URGES THEREBY HIS INNOCENCY. (1Sa 24:8-15)
• SAMUEL DIES. (1Sa 25:1-9)
• THE CHURLISH ANSWER PROVOKES HIM. (1Sa 25:10-13)
• ABIGAIL PACIFIES HIM. (1Sa. 25:14-35)
• NABAL'S DEATH. (1Sa 25:36-44)
• SAUL COMES TO THE HILL OF HACHILAH AGAINST DAVID. (1Sa 26:1-4)
• DAVID STAYS ABISHAI FROM KILLING SAUL, BUT TAKES HIS SPEAR AND CRUSE. (1Sa. 26:5-25)
• SAUL HEARING THAT DAVID WAS FLED TO GATH, SEEKS NO MORE FOR HIM. (1Sa 27:1-4)
• DAVID BEGS ZIKLAG OF ACHISH. (1Sa 27:5-12)
• ACHISH'S CONFIDENCE IN DAVID. (1Sa 28:1-6)
• SAUL SEEKS A WITCH, WHO, BEING ENCOURAGED BY HIM, RAISES UP SAMUEL. (1Sa. 28:7-25)
• DAVID MARCHING WITH THE PHILISTINES TO FIGHT WITH ISRAEL. (1Sa 29:1-5)
• THE AMALEKITES SPOIL ZIKLAG. (1Sa 30:1-5)
• BUT DAVID, ENCOURAGED BY GOD, PURSUES THEM. (1Sa 30:6-15)
• AND RECOVERS HIS TWO WIVES AND ALL THE SPOIL. (1Sa. 30:16-31)
• SAUL HAVING LOST HIS ARMY AT GILBOA, AND HIS SONS BEING SLAIN, HE AND HIS ARMOR-BEARER KILL THEMSELVES. (1Sa 31:1-7)
• THE PHILISTINES TRIUMPH OVER THEIR DEAD BODIES. (1Sa 31:8-10)
• THE MEN OF JABESH-GILEAD RECOVER THE BODIES AND BURY THEM AT JABESH. (1Sa 31:11-13)

TSK: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

The First Book of SAMUEL, otherwise called " The First Book of the KINGS."

TSK: 1 Samuel 20 (Chapter Introduction)

Overview

1Sa 20:1, David consults with Jonathan for his safety; 1Sa 20:11, Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath; 1Sa 20:18, Jonathan’s token to David; 1Sa 20:24, Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan; 1Sa 20:35, Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David.

Poole: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL OTHERWISE CALLED

THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS.

THE ARGUMENT.

IT is not certainly known who was the penman of this Book, or whether it was written by one or more hands; nor is it or any great importance; for since there are sufficient evidences that God was the chief author of it, it matters not who was the instrument. As when it appears that such a thing was really an act of parliament, or of the council-table, it is not considerable who was the clerk or which was the pen that wrote it. And this is the less material in such historical hooks, wherein there is but little which concerns the foundation of faith and good life, and therefore it was not necessary to name the writer of them. It may abundantly suffice that there were in these times divers prophets and holy men of God; as Samuel, and Nathan, and Gad, and David himself, who might each of them write some part of this and the following book. But if any man will out of perverseness doubt or deny that these wrote it, yet this I suppose no discreet and impartial man will deny, that it is wholly incredible that such books should be written in their times, and recommended to the church as a part of the Holy Scriptures, and so received by the succeeding generation, without their approbation, who had so great a power and authority in the church and commonwealth of Israel.

Poole: 1 Samuel 20 (Chapter Introduction)

SAMUEL CHAPTER 20

David complaineth to Jonathan of Saul: he comforteth him; can hardly believe what David saith of his father; promiseth to give him notice how his absence was taken: they renew a covenant of friendship, and swear to each other, 1Sa 20:1-17 . Their sign, 1Sa 20:18-23 . Saul asketh for David at the feast of the new moon, 1Sa 20:24-27 . Jonathan execuseth David: Saul incensed hereat, revileth Jonathan, and seeketh to kill him, 1Sa 20:28-34 . Jonathan advertiseth David, 1Sa 20:35-40 . They part with tears, 1Sa 20:41,42 .

MHCC: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

In this book we have an account of Eli, and the wickedness of his sons; also of Samuel, his character and actions. Then of the advancement of Saul to be the king of Israel, and his ill behaviour, until his death made way for David's succession to the throne, who was an eminent type of Christ. David's patience, modesty, constancy, persecution by open enemies and feigned friends, are a pattern and example to the church, and to every member of it. Many things in this book encourage the faith, hope, and patience of the suffering believer. It contains also many useful cautions and awful warnings.

MHCC: 1 Samuel 20 (Chapter Introduction)

(1Sa 20:1-10) David consults Jonathan.

(1Sa 20:11-23) Jonathan's covenant with David.

(1Sa 20:24-34) Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan.

(1Sa 20:35-42) Jonathan takes leave of David.

Matthew Henry: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Book of Samuel

This book, and that which follows it, bear the name of Samuel in the title, not because he was the penman of them (except of so much of them as fell within his own time, to the twenty-fifth chapter of the first book, in which we have an account of his death), but because the first book begins with a large account of him, his birth and childhood, his life and government; and the rest of these two volumes that are denominated from him contains the history of the reigns of Saul and David, who were both anointed by him. And, because the history of these two kings takes up the greatest part of these books, the Vulgar latin calls them the First and Second Books of the Kings, and the two that follow the Third and Fourth, which the titles in our English Bibles take notice of with an alias: otherwise called the First Book of the Kings, etc. The Septuagint calls them the first and second Book of the Kingdoms. It is needless to contend about it, but there is no occasion to vary from the Hebrew verity. These two books contain the history of the last two of the judges, Eli and Samuel, who were not, as the rest, men of war, but priests (and so much of them is an appendix to the book of Judges), and of the first two of the kings, Saul and David, and so much of them is an entrance upon the history of the kings. They contain a considerable part of the sacred history, are sometimes referred to in the New Testament, and often in the titles of David's Psalms, which, if placed in their order, would fall in these books. It is uncertain who was the penman of them; it is probable that Samuel wrote the history of his own time, and that, after him, some of the prophets that were with David (Nathan as likely as any) continued it. This first book gives us a full account of Eli's fall and Samuel's rise and good government, ch. 1-8. Of Samuel's resignation of the government and Saul's advancement and mal-administration, ch. 9-15. The choice of David, his struggles with Saul, Saul's ruin at last, and the opening of the way for David to the throne, ch. 16-31. And these things are written for our learning.

Matthew Henry: 1 Samuel 20 (Chapter Introduction)

David, having several times narrowly escaped Saul's fury, begins to consider at last whether it may not be necessary for him to retire into the country and to take up arms in his own defence. But he will not do so daring a thing without consulting his faithful friend Jonathan; how he did this, and what passed between them, we have an account in this chapter, where we have as surprising instances of supernatural love as we had in the chapter before of unnatural hatred. I. David complains to Jonathan of his present distress, and engages him to be his friend (1Sa 20:1-8). II. Jonathan faithfully promises to get and give him intelligence how his father stood affected to him, and renews the covenant of friendship with him (1Sa 20:9-23). III. Jonathan, upon trial, finds, to his grief, that his father was implacably enraged against David (1Sa 20:24-34). IV. He gives David notice of this, according to the appointment between them (1Sa 20:35-42).

Constable: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

Introduction

Title

First and Second Samuel were originally one book called the Book of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. The Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament (made ca. 250 B.C.) was the first to divide it into two books. The Septuagint translators titled these books 1 and 2 Kingdoms. That division has persisted ever since and has even been incorporated into subsequent editions of the Hebrew Bible (since A.D. 1517). The title "Samuel" was given by Jerome in his Latin translation, the Vulgate (ca. A.D. 400).

The Jews gave the name "Samuel" to it because Samuel is the first major character in the book. Samuel anointed both Saul and David, so in this respect he was superior to them both.

Date and Writer

Statements in the Book of Samuel imply that someone who had witnessed at least some of the events recorded wrote it. However the original writer must have written most of it after Samuel's death (i.e., -1 Sam. 25-2 Sam. 24) and some of it even after the division of the kingdom following Solomon's death (e.g., 1 Sam. 27:6). These features have made it difficult to date the book.

"Our guess is that the author was a high state official in frequent attendance at the court, enjoying the full confidence of David and his household, who served David throughout his reign in Jerusalem and also Solomon during the early years of his reign, and whose duties may have been connected with literary work."¹

Most conservative scholars prefer the view that Samuel may have written or been responsible for noting the record of earlier events in the book (chs. 1-24). Then some unidentifiable writer put it in its final form later, perhaps soon after Solomon's death.

Rationalistic critics of the book tend to believe it was the result of much more piecing together, and some of them date its final form as late as 500 B.C.²

Scope

The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.³ David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11; 5:5). This means he came to power in 1011 B.C. Saul also reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21) so he became king in 1051 B.C. We can estimate the date of Samuel's birth fairly certainly on the basis of chronological references in the text to have been about 1121 B.C.⁴ Thus the Book of Samuel covers about 1121-971 B.C., or about 150 years of history.

We should note that the first part of 1 Samuel overlaps historically with the end of the judges period that we find in the Book of Judges. Apparently Samson was born just a few years before Samuel. Samson's 20-year judgeship evidently began shortly before the battle of Aphek (1104 B.C.) at which time Eli died (1 Sam. 4:18). It ended not many years before the battle of Mizpah (1084 B.C.) when the Philistine domination of Israel ceased temporarily (1 Sam. 7:13). Samuel's ministry therefore probably ran concurrent with that of Samson until Samson died. Saul began to reign about 35 years after Samson died (i.e., 1051 B.C.). Samuel evidently lived about 30 years after that.⁵

Old Testament History
Events	Biblical References
Creation to Israel's move to Egypt	Genesis 1-50
The Exodus	Exodus 1-18
Israel at Mt. Sinai	Exodus 19--Numbers 10
The Wilderness Wanderings	Numbers 11-21
Israel on the Plains of Moab	Numbers 22--Joshua 2
The Conquest and Division of Canaan	Joshua 3-24
The Amphictyony	-Judges 1-1 Samuel 7
The Reign of Saul	1 Samuel 8-31; 1 Chronicles 10
The Reign of David	2 Samuel 1-24; 1 Chronicles 11-29
The Reign of Solomon	1 Kings 1-11; 2 Chronicles 1-9
The Divided Monarchy	-1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 10-31
The Surviving Kingdom of Judah	2 Kings 18-25; 2 Chronicles 32-36
The Return under Zerubbabel	Ezra 1-6
The Return under Ezra	Ezra 7-10
The Return under Nehemiah	Nehemiah 1-13

Message⁶

First and 2 Samuel are really one story. The translators divided them into two books for convenience, not because of subject matter.

First Samuel records Israel's transition from amphictyony to monarchy.

The key passage that explains this transition is 8:4-7. Two statements from this passage are especially significant.

The human desire that produced the transition expressed itself in verse 5: "Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." God had brought Israel into existence as a nation to be unlike all the nations (Exod. 19:5-6). The essence of its uniqueness was Yahweh's rule over it as King. God wanted Israel to be a demonstration for all the world to see how glorious it can be to live under the authority of God.

The real meaning of the people's request comes out in verse 7: ". . . they have rejected me from being king over them." During the period of the judges, religious apostasy spread and characterized Israel. The people refused to obey their King. It is this attitude that finds expression in verse 5. The people wanted to substitute the false for the true. This is the essence of sin, and it results in idolatry. Every idol is a witness to man's need of God. When people reject the true God they must put something in His place to meet that need. Human beings must have a god.

Israel turned from God as her King in 1 Samuel. She desired a king like the other nations. This book shows the immediate effects of that desire.

One of the great revelations of 1 Samuel is how from the human viewpoint God adapts to continue His reign.

This statement appears to contradict 8:7, but it does not. The people rejected Yahweh, but they did not dethrone Him. The first act is possible, the second is not. This is a major lesson of 1 Samuel. The great revelation of this book is not primarily its three central figures: Samuel, Saul, and David. It is Yahweh reigning by adapting to human situations and moving surely and steadily toward the fulfillment of His purposes. In spite of disobedience or obedience, failure or success, rebellious or loyal people, the reign of God moves on. We see this great lesson in the history of 1 Samuel's three central figures: Samuel, Saul, and David.

The writer introduced Samuel's story with his mother Hannah's experience with God. Hannah was a great woman of faith who lived in the judges period. Her faith became God's foothold for advance. Her song reveals a profound appreciation for Yahweh as the God who reigns over all (2:6-8, 10). The similarities between this prayer and Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1 are interesting and noteworthy.

Samuel was a prophet. In one sense he was the first of the prophets (Acts 3:24). Of course, Moses was a prophet and so was Abraham, but Samuel was the first of the order of prophets who mediated between God and the Israelites during the monarchy. The kings of Israel and Judah were never mediators between God and the people in the sense of speaking for God to the people. When the Israelites rejected Yahweh as their king, He withdrew from close communion and intimate fellowship with them. He never recognized their kings as standing between Himself and them to mediate His Word to the people. He chose their kings for them. He allowed their desire for a human king to work itself out in ultimate disaster through the centuries that followed. Yet He never spoke to the people through the king. He always spoke to them through the prophets. Samuel was the first of these. David, of course, was a king and a prophet. The role of the kings was to govern the people. The role of the prophets was to reveal God's will to them.

With Samuel the office of prophet in Israel emerges as that of Yahweh's authoritative representative to His people. Samuel became the king-maker finding and anointing both Saul and David. >From now on when God had a message for the people it normally did not come directly to the king but to the king and the people through the prophet. The prophet's office was always superior to that of Israel's kings. (You have the privilege of speaking for God to your generation. You have a high calling similar to that of Israel's prophets.) When Israel rejected Yahweh as her king, God chose Samuel, the child of a woman's simple faith, trained him in the tabernacle, and called him when he was only a boy. Then He gave him a message to deliver and sent him to anoint Saul as the king after the people's own heart, and David as the king after God's own heart. The prophets became God's mediators, His messengers, and the interpreters of His law. Thus Yahweh reigned though He adapted His methods of ruling by raising up the prophets. He called Samuel as the first of these mediators. During the monarchy God provided guidance through two offices rather than through one as He had done previously. The kings provided political leadership, and the prophets gave the people spiritual leadership. God had previously provided both types of leadership through single individuals namely Moses, Joshua, and the judges.

Saul's story is one of the most tragic in Scripture. It is unusually fascinating and has tremendous power in its appeal to our lives. When God placed Saul on Israel's throne He answered the prayer of His rebellious people in 8:5. God "gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them" (Ps. 106:15; NASB).

Saul was a revelation to the Israelites of what the possession of "a king like the nations" really meant. He had unusual physical strength, but he was fitful and he failed the people. He had mental acumen, but he was moody and eventually turned into a madman. He was sluggish and dull spiritually lacking in spiritual insight and power, and eventually he abandoned Yahweh for a witch.

His reign was also a disaster. At the beginning of his reign, Israel was virtually without a leader. At its end it was under the control of an enemy neighbor. Saul was never able to expand the borders of Israel because he never was strong enough to dominate his enemy neighbors. David on the other hand did both of these things. At the end of Saul's reign, Israel had almost destroyed itself through its wars with the Philistines.

David's story is one of the most glorious in Scripture. After Saul, God gave His people another king, but this time he was a man after God's own heart.

God prepared David for the throne by putting him through training as a shepherd in the fields, a courtier in the palace, and an "outlaw" in exile. (By "outlaw" I do not mean David was lawless but that he lived outside Saul's control.) His shepherd training prepared him to care for and protect the Israelites under his charge. His courtier experience prepared him to deal with high governmental leaders. His "outlaw" years perfected the disciplines that enabled him to become a strong ruler. These disciplines included relying on God in every situation, practicing self-restraint, and leading his people.

In all David's training God was reigning, moving forward to the fulfillment of His plans and purposes. God had previously done this by making the child of faith, Samuel, His prophet. He had also done this by making outwardly promising Saul a revelation to the nation of her sins in turning away from God.

The second great revelation of this book is that people cooperate with God by either being loyal or by being disloyal to Him.

In Samuel's case he had opportunity to glorify God because of his parentage, his call by God, and his appointment as God's prophet. He responded obediently, with loyalty to God. Consequently God's messages got delivered, and God's work moved ahead. Samuel was an instrument of blessing.

In Saul's case he had opportunity to glorify God too. His opportunity came in his call by God, his anointing by Samuel, his friendship with Samuel, his popularity with the people, and his personal abilities. He responded disobediently, with disloyalty to God as seen in his vacillating and self-will. Consequently he failed as a king, and he died under the judgment of God. His life was a failure.

In David's case his opportunities were his call, his anointing, his waiting, and his suffering. He responded obediently, with loyalty to God. Consequently he became God's instrument of progress and blessing. He was a success.

Each man had his opportunity, made his response, and experienced the consequences of his response. Two obeyed, one disobeyed. All cooperated with God in fulfilling His ultimate purposes either to his own blessing or to his own blasting.

As a result of these two major revelations I would summarize the message of 1 Samuel as follows. God will accomplish His purposes regardless of man's personal response to Him. However man's response to God's revealed will determines a person's own success or failure in life.

First Samuel teaches us the methods of the sovereign God. All territory is within God's jurisdiction, every person is under His control, and all events are in His hands. All of God's plans and purposes are moving toward accomplishment. He makes use of all antagonistic facts and forces as well as all positive facts and forces. He also makes use of all the agents He has chosen to use regardless of their responses. Paul's comments in 2 Tim. 2:20-21 are very much to the point here.

First Samuel also teaches us that God's ultimate victory is independent of the attitudes and actions of individuals and groups of people (e.g., Israel) toward Him. Nevertheless the ultimate destiny of individuals and groups of people depends on their attitudes and actions toward Him.

Samuel was obedient, was God's instrument, and experienced deliverance. Saul was disobedient, was God's instrument, and experienced destruction. David was obedient, was God's instrument, and experienced deliverance. My attitudes and actions do not determine God's ultimate victory, but they do determine my ultimate destiny. Everything depends on my choices and me regarding my earthly destiny. Nothing depends on me regarding God's ultimate victory. God uses all people, loyal and rebellious, to produce His ultimate purposes. However we determine the outcome of our lives by our attitudes and responses to Him. We see these principles working themselves out around us all the time. Dr. Walvoord is an example of a Samuel or a David in our day. The DTS graduates in prison are examples of the Sauls of our day.

Constable: 1 Samuel (Outline)

Outline

I. Eli and Samuel chs. 1-3

A. The change from barrenness to fertility 1:1-2:10

1. Hannah's condition 1:1-8

2. Hannah's vow 1:9-18

3. Hannah's obedience 1:19-28

4. Hannah's song 2:1-10

B. The contrast between Samuel and Eli's sons 2:11-36

1. Eli's sons' wickedness 2:11-17

2. Hannah's godly influence on Samuel and its effect 2:18-21

3. Eli's lack of influence on his sons and its effect 2:22-26

4. The oracle against Eli's house 2:27-36

C. God's first revelation to Samuel ch. 3

1. Samuel's call 3:1-18

2. Samuel's ministry 3:19-4:1a

II. The history of the ark of the covenant 4:1b-7:1

A. The capture of the ark 4:1b-22

1. The battle of Aphek 4:1b-11

2. The response of Eli 4:12-18

3. The response of Phinehas' wife 4:19-22

B. Pagan fertility foiled by God ch. 5

C. The ark returned to Israel by God 6:1-7:1

1. The plan to terminate God's judgment 6:1-9

2. The return of the ark to Bethshemesh 6:10-18

3. The removal of the ark to Kiriath-jearim 6:19-7:1

III. Samuel and Saul 7:2-15:35

A. Samuel's ministry as Israel's judge 7:2-17

1. Samuel's spiritual leadership 7:2-4

2. National repentance and deliverance 7:5-14

3. Samuel's regular ministry 7:15-17

B. Kingship given to Saul chs. 8-12

1. The demand for a king ch. 8

2. The anointing of Saul 9:1-10:16

3. The choice of Saul by lot 10:17-27

4. Saul's effective leadership in battle 11:1-11

5. The confirmation of Saul as king 11:12-12:25

C. Kingship removed from Saul chs. 13-15

1. Saul's disobedience at Gilgal 13:1-15

2. Saul's struggle against the Philistines 13:16-14:23

3. Saul's cursing of Jonathan 14:24-46

4. Saul's limited effectiveness in battle 14:47-52

5. Yahweh's final rejection of Saul ch. 15

IV. Saul and David 1 Sam. 16-31

A. David's rise as the new anointed 16:1-18:5

1. God's selection of David for kingship ch. 16

2. The reason for God's selection of David ch. 17

3. The results of God's selection of David ch. 18:1-19:17

B. David driven out by Saul 19:18-20:42

1. God's deliverance in Ramah 19:18-24

2. Jonathan's advocacy for David ch. 20

C. David in exile chs. 21-31

1. David's initial movements chs. 21-22

2. Saul's pursuit of David ch. 23

3. David's goodness to two fools ch. 24-26

4. The end of Saul's reign 27-31

(Continued in notes on 2 Samuel)

Constable: 1 Samuel

1 Samuel

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Copyright 2003 by Thomas L. Constable

Haydock: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL;

otherwise called,

THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS.

INTRODUCTION.

This and the following Book are called by the Hebrews, the Books of Samuel, because they contain the history of Samuel, and of the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. They are more commonly named by the Fathers, the First and Second Book of Kings. As to the writer of them, it is the common opinion that Samuel composed the first book, as far as the twenty-fifth chapter; and that the prophets Nathan and Gad finished the first and wrote the second book. See 1 Paralipomenon, alias 1 Chronicles, xxix. 19. (Challoner) --- The authors of the Third and Fourth Books of Kings were also prophets, but we know not exactly their names. These works have nevertheless been always esteemed authentic (Haydock) and canonical. (Worthington) --- Ven. Bede takes occasion to observe, from the Books of Kings (or as the Septuagint read, "of kingdoms;" Haydock) being placed after that of Judges, that the everlasting kingdom of Christ will succeed the general judgment. The translation of the priesthood and of the regal dignity, recorded in these books, denote also that Christ would united both in his own person; as the two wives of Eleana intimated, that both Jews and Gentiles would acknowledge the same Lord. (St. Jerome; St. Augustine; &c.) --- The transactions of Heli, Samuel and Saul, and the persecutions which David sustained from the latter, form the subject of the first book, (Haydock) during the space of 100 years. All the four books carry down the sacred history near 600 years, from the year of the world 2849 till the transmigration of Juda, in the year 3420. (Calmet) (Usher)

Gill: 1 Samuel (Book Introduction)

INTRODUCTION TO 1 SAMUEL

This book, in the Hebrew copies, is commonly called Samuel, or the Book of Samuel; in the Syriac version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet; and in the Arabic version, the Book of Samuel the Prophet, which is the First Book of the Kings; and the Septuagint version, the Book of the Kingdom: it has the name of Samuel, because it contains an history of his life and times; and the Jews say ^a it was written by him; and as it may well enough be thought to be, to the end of the twenty fourth chapter; and the rest might be written by Nathan and Gad, as may he gathered from 1Ch 29:29 as also the following book that bears his name; and both may be called the Books of Kings, because they give an account of the rise of the kings in Israel, and of the two first of them; though some think they were written by Jeremiah, as Abarbinel; and others ascribe them to Ezra: however, there is no doubt to be made of it that this book was written by divine inspiration, when we consider the series of its history, its connection and harmony with other parts of Scripture; the several things borrowed from it, or alluded to in the book of Psalms, particularly what is observed in Psa 113:7, seems to be taken out of 1Sa 2:8, and the sanction which the Lord gives to it, by referring to a fact in it, whereby he stopped the mouths of the Scribes and Pharisees cavilling at his disciples, Mat 12:3, compared with 1Sa 21:3, yea, even, as Huetius ^b observes, some Heathen writers have by their testimonies confirmed some passages in these books, which they seem to have been acquainted with, as Nicolaus of Damascus ^c, and Eupolemus ^d; it contains an history of the government of Eli, and of the birth of Samuel, and his education under him; of the succession of Samuel in it, and the resignation of it to Saul, when he was chosen king; of his administration of his office, and of things done in the time of it, both before and after his rejection, and of the persecution of David by Saul, and is concluded with his death.

Gill: 1 Samuel 20 (Chapter Introduction)

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 20

David fleeing from Naioth came to Jonathan, and acquainted him with his circumstances, and entreated his favour, 1Sa 20:1; which Jonathan promised, and renewed the covenant with him, 1Sa 20:9; a scheme was formed between them, by which David might know whether Saul was reconciled to him, and he might come to court, 1Sa 20:18; which being tried, Jonathan found it was not safe for him to appear, 1Sa 20:24; of which he gave notice by the signals agreed on, 1Sa 20:35; and they took their leave of one another with strong expressions of affection and attachment to each other, 1Sa 20:41.