CHAPTER XX _David complains to Jonathan of Saul's enmity against him;_ _Jonathan comforts him_, 1-10. _They walk out into the field, and renew their covenant_, 11-17. _David asks Jonathan's leave to absent himself from Saul's_ _court; and Jonathan informs him how he shall ascertain the_ _dispo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:2. _MY FATHER WILL DO NOTHING_] Jonathan thought that his father could have no evil design against David, because of the oath which he had sworn to himself 1 Samuel 19:6; and at any rate, that he would do nothing against David without informing him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:3. _THERE IS BUT A STEP BETWEEN ME AND DEATH._] My life is in the most imminent danger. Your father has, most assuredly, determined to destroy me. The same figure used here, _there is but a step between me and_ _death_, may be found in _Juvenal_, who, satirizing those who risk the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:5. _TO-MORROW_ IS _THE NEW MOON_] The months of the Hebrews were _lunar_ months, and they reckoned from new moon to new moon. And as their other feasts, particularly the passover, were reckoned according to this, they were very scrupulous in observing the first appearance of each... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:8. _IF THERE BE IN ME INIQUITY_] If thou seest that I am plotting either against the state, or the life of thy father, then slay me thyself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:10. _WHO SHALL TELL ME?_] Who shall give me the necessary information? What means wilt thou use to convey this intelligence to me?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:11. _COME, AND LET US GO OUT INTO THE FIELD_] In answer to David's question, he now shows him how he shall convey this intelligence to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:12. _JONATHAN SAID - O LORD GOD OF ISRAEL_] There is, most evidently, something wanting in this verse. The _Septuagint_ has, _The Lord God of Israel doth KNOW_. The _Syriac_ and _Arabic, The_ _Lord God of Israel is WITNESS_. Either of these makes a good sense. But two of Dr. Kennic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:13. _THE LORD BE WITH THEE, AS HE HATH BEEN WITH MY_ _FATHER._] From this, and other passages here it is evident that Jonathan knew that the Lord had appointed David to the kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:14. _SHOW ME THE KINDNESS OF THE LORD_] When thou comest to the kingdom, if I am alive, thou shalt show kindness to me, and thou shalt continue that kindness to my family after me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 20:20. _I WELL 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 exer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 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,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 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_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 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 rel... [ Continue Reading ]