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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:24 - 20:42
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Jonathan's Information to David
v. 24. So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat, at the head of the table, the place of honor.
v. 25. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall; and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. It seems that Jonathan arose from his place next to Saul and gave his seat to Abner, his uncle, while he himself took the place ordinarily occupied by David, in order to avert suspicion.
v. 26. Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day, made no remark concerning the peculiar absence of David; for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean, that is, Levitically clean, a condition which kept a person away from sacrificial meals, Lev_15:16 ff. ; Deu_23:11.
v. 27. And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty, literally, "on the morrow after the new moon," the second day; and Saul said unto Jonathan, his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor today?
v. 28. And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem;
v. 29. and he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, the oldest brother, as the head of the family, he hath commanded me to be there; and now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me get away, take myself off, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table. The report of Jonathan is entirely in keeping with the cordial relation existing between friends.
v. 30. Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse, rebellious woman, literally, "of perversity, of rebelliousness," a common expression for a man of obstinate and unruly disposition, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, disgrace, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness, to thy shame and to the shame of thy mother's nakedness, who would be ashamed of having given birth to such a rebellious son?
v. 31. For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, as long as David was alive and was, in the opinion of Saul, making rebellious attempts to possess the royal throne, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom; David was standing in the way of making the kingdom hereditary in Saul's family. Wherefore, now, send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die; Saul considered him a son, a candidate, of death.
v. 32. And Jonathan, by way of gentle remonstrance, in order to set forth David's innocence, answered Saul, his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? What hath he done?
v. 33. And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him, he brandished and probably even hurled the small spear which he used as a scepter; whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined, firmly settled, of his father to slay David.
v. 34. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger and did eat no meat, did not partake of food, the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, on account of the shame heaped upon his friend by Saul, which his generous nature deeply resented, while he overlooked the insult offered to himself, because his father had done him shame.
v. 35. And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. He was careful to keep the agreement with David in every detail.
v. 36. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot, gathering them up from the ground as Jonathan practiced with his bow. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him, farther than the boy had passed on.
v. 37. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, where it had flown, Jonathan cried after the lad and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
v. 38. And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not, lest in looking about in a leisurely fashion he might espy David behind the rock. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and came to his master, bringing the arrow, as he probably did in the next two cases.
v. 39. But the lad knew not anything; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
v. 40. And Jonathan gave his artillery, bow, quiver, and arrows, unto his lad and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city, this giving him an opportunity to be alone with David.
v. 41. And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, for on that side of the rock he had concealed himself, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times, both to do Jonathan honor and gratefully to acknowledge his efforts in his behalf; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded, until David broke out in loud weeping.
v. 42. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have 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 forever. This oath they wanted to keep with all firmness; nothing should ever persuade them to break it. And he, David, arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city. Thus true love and friendship demonstrates its sincerity when one friend warns the other against harm and danger. And it is true in general that we should weep with those who mourn and comfort those who are in trouble, encouraging them with reference to Jehovah's mercy.