1 Samuel 20:1-10. David's consultation with Jonathan
1. _David fled from Naioth_ While Saul lay helpless in his trance,
David, perhaps by Samuel's advice, returned to consult with Jonathan.
It may seem surprising that he could think of venturing back to Gibeah
after Saul's late outbreak; but he on... [ Continue Reading ]
_nothing either great or small_ i.e. absolutely nothing. Cp. 1 Samuel
22:15; 1 Samuel 25:36.
_shew it me_ Lit. "uncover mine ear," and so in 1 Samuel 20:12. See on
1 Samuel 9:15.
_it is not so_ Bearing in mind Saul's oath (1 Samuel 19:6), and
attributing his recent violence to temporary madness, J... [ Continue Reading ]
_And David sware moreover_ Added an oath to the assertion in 1 Samuel
20:1. The Sept. however reads simply, "And David answered Jonathan and
said."
_Thy father certainly knoweth_, &c. Jonathan's confidence that Saul
would tell him all beforehand clearly implies that be supposed his
father to be ign... [ Continue Reading ]
_the new moon_ The New Moon or first day of the lunar month was
celebrated with special sacrifices and blowing of trumpets. See
Numbers 28:11-15; Numbers 10:10; Psalms 81:3. It was observed as a day
of rest (Amos 8:5), and apparently used as an opportunity for
religious instruction (2 Kings 4:23).
_... [ Continue Reading ]
_a yearly sacrifice there for all the family_ This request
incidentally throws light on the religious customs of the age. The
annual meeting of the family or clan for sacrifice may have been a
partial observance of the command in Deuteronomy 12:5 ff.; but in the
unsettled state of religion the oblig... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou hast brought_, &c. The initiative had been on Jonathan's side (1
Samuel 18:3). David calls their league of friendship "a covenant of
Jehovah" as being ratified in His name by solemn oath. See 1 Samuel
20:12 ff.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Far be it from thee_ i.e. Do not suppose that I could either slay
thee myself or give thee up to my father. The same phrase is rendered
"God forbid" in 1 Samuel 20:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who shall tell me_, &c. The double question answers to Jonathan's
double promise in 1 Samuel 20:12, that he will let David know the
result in either event. But perhaps the words should be rendered
simply, WHO SHALL TELL ME IF HAPLY THY FATHER ANSWER THEE ROUGHLY?... [ Continue Reading ]
David and Jonathan renew their covenant
11. _into the field_ To escape observation they leave the city, in
which the conversation has been held hitherto.... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Lord God_ Jonathan begins by addressing Jehovah, but afterwards
instead of putting the verb in the second person (so mayest _Thou_do)
he repeats the divine Name.
_about to-morrow any time, or the third day_ ABOUT THIS TIME TO-MORROW
OR THE DAY AFTER.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord do so_, &c. See on 1 Samuel 3:17.
_the Lord be with thee_, &c. Cp. 1 Samuel 18:12. Jonathan already
foresees David's destiny, as is clear from the following verses. See
also 1 Samuel 23:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Convinced that David will succeed to the kingdom, Jonathan exacts from
him a promise to shew kindness to his posterity after his death as
well as to himself during his life time. His words, like Saul's in ch.
1 Samuel 14:21, are prompted by a fear lest even David should conform
to the barbarous Orie... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Jonathan_, &c. (1) The E. V. treats this as a remark of the
historian: and apparently understands Jonathan's words "Let the Lord,
&c." to mean "Let the Lord exact vengeance from David by the hand of
his enemies if he fails to fulfil the covenant." But this involves an
unusual construction. We sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_caused David to swear again, because_, &c. Jonathan exacted another
oath beside that implied in 1 Samuel 20:16, because the intensity of
his love impelled him to bind David by the strongest possible
obligation. The Sept. however reads: "And Jonathan swore yet again to
David.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy seat will be empty_ At the sacrificial feast. See 1 Samuel 20:5_;
1 Samuel 20:25_.... [ Continue Reading ]
This section is the _Haphtarah_for the New Moon when it falls on the
first day of the week.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when the business was in hand_ Lit. "on the day of the business,"
either the incident recorded in 1 Samuel 19:1-7, or some unknown
matter.
_the stone Ezel_ The name "stone of departure" may have been given in
remembrance of the parting of David and Jonathan beside it. The Sept.
however, (cp. 1 Sam... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will shoot_, &c. This sign was arranged in case Jonathan should be
watched by Saul's spies, and prevented from getting an interview with
David without endangering him. No suspicion would be excited by
Jonathan's carrying the bow which was his usual weapon (1 Samuel
18:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the young man_ THE STRIPLING, as in 1 Samuel 17:56.
_the Lord hath sent thee away_ Bids thee depart. Jonathan is prepared
to recognise the Divine Will in the banishment of David from Saul's
court. God had another school in which the future king must be
trained.... [ Continue Reading ]
_as touching the matter_, &c. The reciprocal covenant of friendship
just renewed and ratified.
_the Lord_, &c. As the witness of our covenant, and the avenger of any
breach of it. Cp. Genesis 31:49; Genesis 31:53.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul's intention tested by Jonathan
24. _meat_ Lit. _bread_. "Meat" in the E. V. signifies _food_in
general, and is nowhere limited to the modem meaning _flesh_. This
usage survives in some provincial dialects.... [ Continue Reading ]
_upon a seat by the wall_ Saul occupied the place of honour at the top
or the centre of the table opposite the entrance.
_and Jonathan arose_ This appears to mean that Jonathan first occupied
his usual seat by Saul's side, but when Abner entered resigned the
place to him, probably not wishing to si... [ Continue Reading ]
_he is not clean_ Persons who were ceremonially unclean were
peremptorily excluded from participating in a religious festival. See
Lev 7:20-21; 1 Samuel 16:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
_my brother_ The eldest brother probably made the arrangements in
Jesse's old age. The Sept. reads "my brothers.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman_ "To any Oriental, nothing
is so grievously insulting as a reproach cast upon his mother.… The
mother herself is not held to be affronted in such cases, but the son
who hears such words applied to her is insulted, and meant to be
insulted, beyond expiation.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he shall surely die_ Lit. "he is a son of death." Cp. 2 Samuel 12:5;
Psalms 102:20; Matthew 23:15; John 17:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
_cast a javelin_ Or, as in 1 Samuel 18:11, LIFTED HIS SPEAR:
brandished it threateningly, without actually casting it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_had done him shame_ Saul had insulted and wronged David by publicly
charging him with treasonable intentions (1 Samuel 20:31). "The
generosity of Jonathan's character is very apparent. He did not resent
the injury and insult offered to himself so much as the wrong done to
his friend." _Speaker's Co... [ Continue Reading ]
The parting between Jonathan and David
35. _at the time appointed_ Better, TO THE PLACE APPOINTED (1 Samuel
20:19).
_a little lad_ Who would not suspect the real purpose of Jonathan's
shooting: a vivid touch of reality in the narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the arrows_ It is implied that the three arrows agreed upon were
shot, but the narrator does not think it necessary to repeat full
details thrice.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his artillery_ i.e. his bow and quiver. From Lat. _ars_, used in late
Latin to mean -an implement," came the late Latin _artillaria_, and O.
Fr. _artillerie_, -machines or equipment of war." The word was used of
missile weapons long before the invention of gunpowder. See _Bible
Word-Book_, p. 37.... [ Continue Reading ]
_out of a place toward the south_ Lit. "from the side of the south,"
i.e. from a hiding-place to the south of the stone Ezel. But the
expression is anomalous, and it is best to adopt the Sept. reading,
"from beside the heap of stones," as in 1 Samuel 20:19.
_fell on his face_, &c. As a token of rev... [ Continue Reading ]
_forasmuch as_, &c. It is better to follow the marginal rendering in
assuming an aposiopesis, which corresponds with Jonathan's deep
emotion. " THAT WHICH WE HAVE SWORN, &c." REMEMBER! Jonathan's parting
charge reminds David of their mutual vow.... [ Continue Reading ]