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 ]