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1 Samuel
Chapter Twenty
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 20
David
fleeing from Naioth came to Jonathan
and acquainted him with his
circumstances
and entreated his favour
1 Samuel 20:1;
which Jonathan promised
and renewed the covenant with him
1 Samuel 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
1 Samuel 20:18;
which being tried
Jonathan found it was not safe for him to appear
1 Samuel 20:24; of
which he gave notice by the signals agreed on
1 Samuel 20:35; and
they took their leave of one another with strong expressions of affection and
attachment to each other
1 Samuel 20:41.
1 Samuel 20:1 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?”
YLT
1And David fleeth from
Naioth in Ramah
and cometh
and saith before Jonathan
`What have I done? what
[is] mine iniquity? and what my sin before thy father
that he is seeking my
life?'
And David fled from Naioth in Ramah
.... While Saul was
prophesying
or lay in a trance there:
and came; to Gibeah
where Saul dwelt
and had his palace
and kept his
court:
and said before Jonathan; whom he found there
and
for whose sake he thither fled to have his advice
and to use his interest with
his father
and be his friend at court:
what have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is
my sin before thy father
that he seeketh my life? surely
as if
he should say
I must have been guilty of some very great crime
and yet I am
not sensible of it; canst thou tell me what it is that has so provoked thy
father
that nothing will satisfy him but the taking away of my life
which he
seeks to do?
1 Samuel 20:2 2 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!”
YLT
2And he saith to him
`Far
be it! thou dost not die; lo
my father doth not do anything great or small and
doth not uncover mine ear; and wherefore doth my father hide from me this
thing? this [thing] is not.'
And he said unto him
God forbid
thou shalt not die
.... He could
not believe his father had any such intention; and that if he discovered
anything of that kind
it was only when he was in a frenzy
and a melancholy
disorder had seized him; and that David had nothing to fear on that head
and
that he would secure him from all danger in that respect; the thing was too
gross and detestable to be credited:
behold
my father will do nothing
either great or small
but that
he will show it me; such an interest had he in him
and in his favour
being his son
and heir to his crown
and having done many warlike exploits
which had the
more endeared him to him
that he made him privy to all his secret designs
and
took his opinion in all matters of moment and importance:
and why should my father hide this thing from me? his design of
taking away the life of David
if he had really formed one:
it is not so; Jonathan concluded
from
his ignorance of it
there was nothing in it
and that it was only a surmise of
David's; and yet it is strange that Jonathan should know nothing of the messengers
being sent to David's house to take him
and of others sent to Naioth after
him
and of Saul's going there himself with such a design; and if he did know
anything of the matter
he made the best of it to David
partly to allay his
fears
and partly that his father might not appear so black and vile as he
really was.
1 Samuel 20:3 3 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.”
YLT
3And David sweareth again
and saith
`Thy father hath certainly known that I have found grace in thine
eyes
and he saith
Let not Jonathan know this
lest he be grieved; and yet
Jehovah liveth
and thy soul liveth
but -- as a step between me and death.'
And David sware moreover
and said
.... To assure Jonathan
of the truth of it
that he did most certainly seek after his life
of which
as he had no doubt himself
by an oath he endeavoured to remove any that might
be in Jonathan
who was not willing to believe his father could be guilty of so
foul a crime:
thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes: that he was
high in his favour
that he had a great value for him
and he had a large share
in his love and friendship
and that was the reason why he hid from him his
base intentions:
and he saith
let not Jonathan know this
lest he be grieved; as he would
be
both for the evil his father would be guilty of
and the danger David
his
beloved friend
would be in:
but truly
as the Lord liveth
and as thy soul
liveth
there is but a step between me and death; as appeared
by his casting a javelin at him
1 Samuel 18:11
sending messengers to his own house to slay him
1 Samuel 19:11
and
others to Naioth to seize him
1 Samuel 19:20
and
coming himself thither with an intention to kill him
1 Samuel 19:22
and
in each of these instances he had a narrow escape for his life; and this he
declared in the most solemn manner by an oath
for the confirmation of the
truth of it to Jonathan.
1 Samuel 20:4 4 So Jonathan said to David
“Whatever you yourself desire
I will do it for you.”
YLT
4And Jonathan saith to
David
`What doth thy soul say? -- and I do it for thee.'
Then said Jonathan unto David
.... Now giving credit to
what he had said
and in order to comfort and support him under the
apprehensions he had of danger:
whatsoever thy soul desireth
I will even do it for thee; for the
preservation of his life
by speaking to his father on his behalf
endeavouring
to dissuade him from his evil intentions
or by hiding and concealing him in
some obscure place
that he might not execute his evil designs upon him
or by
any method he could point out to him.
1 Samuel 20:5 5 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.
YLT
5And David saith unto
Jonathan
`Lo
the new moon [is] to-morrow; and I do certainly sit with the
king to eat; and thou hast sent me away
and I have been hidden in a field till
the third evening;
And David said unto Jonathan
.... Moved that the
following method might be taken as a trial of the disposition of Saul's mind
towards David:
behold
tomorrow is the new moon; the first day
of the month
which was kept solemnly with burnt offerings and peace offerings
see Numbers 10:10. Some
sayF18Weemse's Expos. Ceremon. Law
c. 22. p. 100
101. this feast
was not kept for the new moon
but because it was the day of the feast of
trumpets or the first day of the new year
which fell together on that day; the
calends
or first day of the month
was with the Heathens sacred to deityF19Macrob.
Saturnal. l. 1. c. 15. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 3. c. 18. in fine.
in
imitation of the Jews:
and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat; it had been
usual for him at such a time to sit at table with the king; next to him
as
Jarchi interprets it
either as his son-in-law
or as one of his princes; the
custom being for the king
and his family and nobles
to eat together on that
day upon the peace offerings; and it was the duty of David to attend at that
time
and it might be expected he would:
but let me go; he asked leave of Jonathan
who had
power in his father's absence to grant it
he not being yet returned from
Naioth:
that I may hide myself in the fields
unto the third day at
even; or until the time of the evening of the third day
as the Targum
which was the evening of the second day of the month; for that was the third
from that evening they were discoursing together
as Ben Gersom observes; the
fields he proposed to hide himself in were near to Gibeah
and he doubtless
meant some cave in those fields
where he might be
and not be seen by men;
though it cannot be thought that he remained
or proposed to remain
in such a
place during that time
where he would be in want of food
but that he would
abide incognito among his friends somewhere or another
until the festival was
over.
1 Samuel 20:6 6 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.’
YLT 6if thy father at all look
after me
and thou hast said
David asked earnestly of me to run to Beth-Lehem
his city
for a sacrifice of the days [is] there for all the family.
If thy father at all miss me
.... Or diligently
inquires after me:
then say
David earnestly asked leave of me
that he might run to
Bethlehem his city: the place of his birth
called the city of David
where he was
born and had lived
Luke 2:4
which was
not far from Gibeah
and whither he could soon run; and which shows the haste
he proposed to make
and his eager desire to be there
and which also is
signified by his earnest and importunate request; for all this might be true
and no lie of David
framed for an excuse; and after he had hid himself some
time in the field
until it was evening
he might go to Bethlehem
and return
soon enough to meet Jonathan in the field at the time fixed by them on the
third day:
for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family; it was
customary for the family of Jesse one day in a year
and as it should seem on a
first day of the month
and perhaps the first day of the first month
or New
Year's Day
to have an anniversary feast by way of gratitude and thankfulness
for the mercies of the year past
and for the continuance of them for time to
come; in which the family rejoiced together at the great goodness of God unto
them
1 Samuel 9:12.
1 Samuel 20:7 7 If he says thus: ‘It is
well
’ your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry
be sure that evil is
determined by him.
YLT
7If thus he say: Good; peace
[is] for thy servant; and if it be very displeasing to him -- know that the
evil hath been determined by him;
If he say thus
it is well
.... It is very well
it
is very good and right in him to do so:
thy servant shall have peace; it will be a token that
the wrath of the king was removed
and that his mind was well disposed towards
David
and things had taken an happy turn
and would issue in his peace and
prosperity:
but if he be very wroth; with Jonathan for giving
leave
and with David for going away:
then be sure that
evil is determined by him; that he has a settled obstinate malice in
his heart
which is become implacable and inveterate
and confirmed in him; and
that it is a determined point with him to slay David if possible
which he
hoped to have an opportunity of doing at that time in which he was
disappointed
and caused such wrath in him.
1 Samuel 20:8 8 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?”
YLT
8and thou hast done
kindness
to thy servant
for into a covenant of Jehovah thou hast brought thy
servant with thee; -- and if there is in me iniquity
put thou me to death; and
unto thy father
why is this -- thou dost bring me in?'
Therefore thou shall deal kindly with thy servant
.... By
informing him how his father's mind stood affected to him
that he might
conduct himself accordingly
either by appearing at court
or by providing for
his safety by flight:
for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with
thee; a covenant of friendship between Jonathan and David
of which
Jonathan was the first mover
and so is said to bring or persuade him into it;
called the covenant of the Lord
because made in his name and fear
and before
him as a witness of it; and this David pleads as an argument with Jonathan
to
deal kindly and faithfully by him in the present case:
notwithstanding
if there be in me iniquity
slay me thyself: or pass
sentence upon him to be slain; which
if guilty
he might have power to do in
his father's absence
and which David desires might be done
notwithstanding
the covenant of friendship between them
should he appear to deserve it by any
action of his
of which he was not conscious; this expresses the strong sense
he had of his own integrity
and served to confirm Jonathan in his opinion of
it:
for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father? deliver him
up into his hands to be put to a cruel death by him
or give him the trouble of
doing it
when he might as well dispatch him at once.
1 Samuel 20:9 9 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?”
YLT
9And Jonathan saith
`Far be
it from thee! for I certainly do not know that the evil hath been determined by
my father to come upon thee
and I do not declare it to thee.'
And Jonathan said
far be it from thee
.... To
entertain such a thought of me
or to have the least suspicion of me
that I
should conceal my father's ill intentions against thee
if known to me:
for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to
come upon thee
then would I not tell it thee? certainly I would; canst
thou doubt of my kindness and fidelity? surely thou hast no reason
when such a
covenant of friendship subsists between us
and there has not been the least
breach of it on either side.
1 Samuel 20:10 10 Then David said to
Jonathan
“Who will tell me
or what if your father answers you
roughly?”
YLT
10And David saith unto
Jonathan
`Who doth declare to me? or what [if] thy father doth answer thee
sharply?'
Then said David to Jonathan
who shall tell me?.... The
disposition of Saul's mind towards him
whether he gave a kind answer to the
report of Jonathan concerning him:
or what if thy father answer thee roughly? or hard
words
as the Targum
whether he answers in a kind
loving
and smooth manner
or whether in a rough and angry one: the question is here
how he should be
informed of this
since especially
if in the latter
it would not be safe for
Jonathan to come himself to him
nor could he well trust the message with any
other. Abarbinel thinks
that the first of these expressions is by way of
question
who should declare to him his father's will and intention
whether
good or bad: and the latter by way of outcry
woe unto me
if thy father should
answer thee roughly; I greatly fear he will chide thee for my sake; my heart
will be filled with sorrow if thou shouldest suffer reproach and rebuke on my
account.
1 Samuel 20:11 11 And Jonathan said to
David
“Come
let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out into the
field.
YLT
11And Jonathan saith unto
David
`Come
and we go out into the field;' and they go out both of them into
the field.
And Jonathan said unto David
come
and let us go out into the
field
.... That they might more fully
and freely
and familiarly talk
of this affair between them
without any danger of being overheard by the
servants of Saul
as they were in his palace
where they now were:
and they went out both of them into the field; which
belonged to Gibeah.
1 Samuel 20:12 12 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
YLT
12And Jonathan saith unto
David
`Jehovah
God of Israel -- when I search my father
about [this] time
to-morrow [or] the third [day]
and lo
good [is] towards David
and I do not
then send unto thee
and have uncovered thine ear –
And Jonathan said unto David
O Lord God of Israel
.... Or by the
Lord God of Israel
I swear unto thee; for this is the form of the oath
as
Jarchi and Kimchi observe:
when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time
or
the third day; searched
inquired
and found out how his disposition is:
and
behold
if there be good toward David; if he is well
disposed to him
as may appear by speaking respectfully of him
or kindly
inquiring after him
and by being satisfied with the account given him:
and I then send not unto thee
and show it thee; then let the
vengeance of God fall upon me in some remarkable manner or another
as follows;
or "shall I not then send unto thee
and show it thee"F20ולא אז אשלח
אליך "an non tune mitterem?" Junius &
Tremellius; "nonne tunc mittam ad te?" so some in Vatablus. ?
certainly I will; that is
I will send a messenger to thee to acquaint thee
with it
who shall tell it
and cause thee to hear it
as from myself.
1 Samuel 20:13 13 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.
YLT
13thus doth Jehovah do to
Jonathan
and thus doth He add; when the evil concerning thee is good to my
father
then I have uncovered thine ear
and sent thee away
and thou hast gone
in peace
and Jehovah is with thee
as he was with my father;
The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan
....
Recompense evil more than can be thought of and expressed
should he neglect to
inform David of the good disposition of Saul unto him:
but if it please my father to do thee evil; if he seems
determined upon it to take away thy life:
then I will show it thee; not by a messenger
by
whom it would not be safe to communicate it
lest by that means Saul would know
where he was
and come and slay him; but Jonathan would come himself
and
acquaint him with it:
and send thee away
that thou mayest go in peace; give him
leave
and advise him to depart
and provide for his own safety
adding his
blessing on him
and prayer for him:
and the Lord be with thee
as he hath been with my father; in the
beginning of his reign
giving him counsel and advice in all things
and
victory over his enemies
succeeding and prospering him in whatsoever he
engaged in; the Targum is
"the Word of the Lord be for thy help
&c.'
Jonathan
seemed to be fully apprized that David was to succeed in the kingdom.
1 Samuel 20:14 14 And you shall not only
show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live
that
I may not die;
YLT
14and not only while I am
alive dost thou do with me the kindness of Jehovah
and I die not
And thou shalt not only
while yet I live
show me the kindness of
the Lord
.... Such kindness as is well pleasing in the sight of God
and
imitate what he shows to men
and which was covenanted
promised
and agreed to
in the presence of the Lord
when David and Jonathan entered into covenant with
each other; this Jonathan did not doubt of
and therefore did not make this a
request:
that I die not; he had no fear nor dread on his mind
should David come to the throne while he was alive
that he would take away his
life; which was usually done by tyrants and usurpers
when there were any that
had a fairer title
and better claim to the throne than they.
1 Samuel 20:15 15 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.”
YLT
15but thou dost not cut off
thy kindness from my house unto the age
nor in Jehovah's cutting off the
enemies of David
each one from off the face of the ground.'
But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for
ever
.... His family should partake of it as well as himself:
no
not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David
everyone
from the face of the earth; Saul and his sons
and everyone that should
oppose his settlement in the kingdom: Jonathan's meaning is
that the covenant
between them should not be only between them personally
but include their
posterity
as follows.
1 Samuel 20:16 16 So Jonathan made a
covenant with the house of David
saying
“Let the Lord require it
at the hand of David’s enemies.”
YLT
16And Jonathan covenanteth
with the house of David
and Jehovah hath sought [it] from the hand of the
enemies of David;
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.
1 Samuel 20:17 17 Now Jonathan again caused
David to vow
because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
YLT
17and Jonathan addeth to
cause David to swear
because he loveth him
for with the love of his own soul
he hath loved him.
And Jonathan caused David to swear again
.... Or
Jonathan added to make David swearsF21ויסף
"et addidit"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus; so the Tigurine version.
; 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
1 Samuel 20:12
for he loved him as his own soul; or "with the love
of his soul"F23אהבת נפשו "secundum dilectionem animae suae"
Pagninus; "amore sui ipsius"
Junius & Tremellius. ; with the
most cordial affection
with a truly hearty and sincere love
see 1 Samuel 18:1.
1 Samuel 20:18 18 Then Jonathan said to
David
“Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed
because your
seat will be empty.
YLT
18And Jonathan saith to him
`To-morrow [is] new moon
and thou hast been looked after
for thy seat is
looked after;
Then Jonathan said to David
tomorrow is the new moon
.... The first
day of the month
as David had before observed
1 Samuel 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.
1 Samuel 20:19 19 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.
YLT
19and on the third day thou
dost certainly come down
and hast come in unto the place where thou wast
hidden in the day of the work
and hast remained near the stone Ezel.
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"F24ביום המעשה "in die
operis"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus; "die profesto"
Tigurine
version. ; 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"F25שלשת תרד
מאד "tertiabis
descendes valde"
Montanus;
"descendes ter
vel tertiabis descendere"
Castalio; so
Patrick. 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 JeromF26De loc.
Heb. fol. 91. C. ; it is said by JosephusF1Apud Adrichem. Theatrum
T. S. p. 17. to be an hundred fifty furlongs (about nineteen miles)
from
Jerusalem
and from Jordan sixty
(about eight miles).
1 Samuel 20:20 20 Then I will shoot three
arrows to the side
as though I shot at a target;
YLT
20`And I shoot three of the
arrows at the side
sending out for myself at a mark;
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.
1 Samuel 20:21 21 and there I will send a
lad
saying
‘Go
find the arrows.’ If I expressly say to the lad
‘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.
YLT
21and lo
I send the youth:
Go
find the arrows. If I at all say to the youth
Lo
the arrows [are] on this
side of thee -- take them
-- then come thou
for peace [is] for thee
and
there is nothing; Jehovah liveth.
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.
1 Samuel 20:22 22 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.
YLT
22And if thus I say to the
young man
Lo
the arrows [are] beyond thee
-- go
for Jehovah hath sent thee
away;
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.
1 Samuel 20:23 23 And as for the matter
which you and I have spoken of
indeed the Lord be
between you and me forever.”
YLT
23as to the thing which we
have spoken
I and thou
lo
Jehovah [is] between me and thee -- unto the age.'
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.'
1 Samuel 20:24 24 Then David hid in the
field. And when the New Moon had come
the king sat down to eat the feast.
YLT
24And David is hidden in the
field
and it is the new moon
and the king sitteth down by the food to eat
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"F2על הלחם "ad vel juxta
panem"
Pagninus
Montanus.
which is put for all the food on the table
and the provisions of it.
1 Samuel 20:25 25 Now the king sat on his
seat
as at other times
on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose
[a] and Abner
sat by Saul’s side
but David’s place was empty.
YLT
25and the king sitteth on his
seat
as time by time
on a seat by the wall
and Jonathan riseth
and Abner
sitteth at the side of Saul
and David's place is looked after.
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 1 Samuel 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
1 Samuel 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 JosephusF3Antiqu.
l. 6. c. 11. sect. 9. 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 VirgilF4"----- mediamque locavit". Aeneid. 1. prope
finem. Vid. Servium in ib. . 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.
1 Samuel 20:26 26 Nevertheless Saul did not
say anything that day
for he thought
“Something has happened to him; he is
unclean
surely he is unclean.”
YLT
26And Saul hath not spoken
anything on that day
for he said
`It [is] an accident; he is not clean -- surely
not clean.'
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 Leviticus 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.
1 Samuel 20:27 27 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?”
YLT
27And it cometh to pass on
the second morrow of the new moon
that David's place is looked after
and Saul
saith unto Jonathan his son
`Wherefore hath the son of Jesse not come in
either yesterday or to-day
unto the food?'
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 AbarbinelF5Comment.
in Exod. xii. 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
Leviticus 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.
1 Samuel 20:28 28 So Jonathan answered Saul
“David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.
YLT
28And Jonathan answereth
Saul
`David hath been earnestly asked of me unto Beth-Lehem
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.
1 Samuel 20:29 29 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.”
YLT
29and he saith
Send me away
I pray thee
for a family sacrifice we have in the city
and my brother himself
hath given command to me
and now
if I have found grace in thine eyes
let me
go away
I pray thee
and see my brethren; therefore he hath not come unto the
table of the king.'
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
1 Samuel 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.
1 Samuel 20:30 30 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?
YLT
30And the anger of Saul
burneth against Jonathan
and he saith to him
`Son of a perverse rebellious
woman! have I not known that thou art fixing on the son of Jesse to thy shame
and to the shame of the nakedness of thy mother?
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"F6בן נעות המרדות
"fili perversae rebellionis"
Pagninus
Montanus. ; 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.
1 Samuel 20:31 31 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.”
YLT
31for all the days that the
son of Jesse liveth on the ground thou art not established
thou and thy
kingdom; and now
send and bring him unto me
for he [is] a son of death.'
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"F7בן מות
"filius mortis"
V. L. Montanus
Vatablus
Piscator; "reus
mortis"
Junius & Tremellius. ; guilty of death
as the Targum
deserves to die
and Saul was determined upon his death if possible.
1 Samuel 20:32 32 And Jonathan answered Saul
his father
and said to him
“Why should he be killed? What has he done?”
YLT
32And Jonathan answereth Saul
his father
and saith unto him
`Why is he put to death? what hath he done?'
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?
1 Samuel 20:33 33 Then Saul cast a spear at
him to kill him
by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to
kill David.
YLT
33And Saul casteth the
javelin at him to smite him
and Jonathan knoweth that it hath been determined
by his father to put David to death.
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
JustinF8E Trogo
l. 43. c. 3.
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 spearsF9Pausanias
in Boeoticis
sive
l. 9. p. 859. Vid. Barthii Animadv. ad Claudian in nupt.
Honor ver. 119. :
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.
1 Samuel 20:34 34 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.
YLT
34And Jonathan riseth from
the table in the heat of anger
and hath not eaten food on the second day of
the new moon
for he hath been grieved for David
for his father put him to
shame.
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.
1 Samuel 20:35 35 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.
YLT
35And it cometh to pass in
the morning
that Jonathan goeth out into the field for the appointment with
David
and a little youth [is] with him.
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.
1 Samuel 20:36 36 Then he said to his lad
“Now run
find the arrows which I shoot.” As the lad ran
he shot an arrow
beyond him.
YLT
36And he saith to his youth
`Run
find
I pray thee
the arrows which I am shooting;' the youth is running
and he hath shot the arrow
causing [it] to pass over him.
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.
1 Samuel 20:37 37 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?”
YLT
37And the youth cometh unto
the place of the arrow which Jonathan hath shot
and Jonathan calleth after the
youth
and saith
`Is not the arrow beyond thee?'
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
NoldiusF11Concord. Ebr. Part. p. 265. No. 1141. .
1 Samuel 20:38 38 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.
YLT
38and Jonathan calleth after
the youth
`Speed
haste
stand not;' and Jonathan's youth gathereth the
arrows
and cometh unto his lord.
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
1 Samuel 20:20;
and came to his master; with them.
1 Samuel 20:39 39 But the lad did not know
anything. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter.
YLT
39And the youth hath not
known anything
only Jonathan and David knew the word.
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.
1 Samuel 20:40 40 Then Jonathan gave his
weapons to his lad
and said to him
“Go
carry them to the city.”
YLT
40And Jonathan giveth his
weapons unto the youth whom he hath
and saith to him
`Go
carry into the city.'
And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad
.... "His
vessels"F12את כליו
"vasa sua"
Montanus; "instrumenta sua"
Piscator;
"arma sua"
V. L. Tigurine version. 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.
1 Samuel 20:41 41 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.
YLT
41The youth hath gone
and
David hath risen from Ezel
at the south
and falleth on his face to the earth
and boweth himself three times
and they kiss one another
and they weep one
with another
till David exerted himself;
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 XenophonF26Cyropaedia
l. 8. c. 23. 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 1 Samuel 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.
1 Samuel 20:42 42 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.
YLT
42and Jonathan saith to
David
`Go in peace
in that we have sworn -- we two -- in the name of Jehovah
saying
Jehovah is between me and thee
and between my seed and thy seed --
unto the age;' and he riseth and goeth; and Jonathan hath gone in to the city.
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.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)