Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 20

Introduction

A.M. 2942. B.C. 1062.

David complains to Jonathan, and desires his help, 1 Samuel 20:1-8 . Jonathan promises to give him intelligence, and confirms his friendship, 1 Samuel 20:9-23 . He finds his father implacable, 1 Samuel 20:24-34 . He gives David notice of it, in the manner they had agreed on, 1 Samuel 20:35-42 .

Verse 1

1 Samuel 20:1. David fled, and came and said before Jonathan Saul’s being thrown into a trance, as mentioned in the foregoing verse, gave David time to escape, and he went from Naioth to Gibeah, where Jonathan was. “It was happy for David that he had such a friend at court, when he had such an enemy on the throne.” Henry. What have I done? What is mine iniquity? He appeals to Jonathan himself concerning his innocence, and endeavours to convince him that, notwithstanding he had committed no iniquity, Saul sought his life.

Verse 2

1 Samuel 20:2. He said, God forbid: thou shalt not die It appears by this that Jonathan knew nothing of his father’s design, and that the messengers before named had been sent to seize David without his privity. Hence, from a principle of filial respect to his father, he was very loath to believe that he would do so ill a thing. Behold, my father will do nothing, but he will show it me In this he was greatly mistaken. Communicative as Saul was to his son Jonathan in other things, he was ashamed to disclose to him the wicked design he had formed against the life of his friend. Why should my father hide this thing from me? Why? For an obvious reason; because it was too base and shameful to be discovered to any one that had any fear of God before his eyes, or any sense of moral obligation. He was afraid too that if he should disclose his design to Jonathan, he should find means to prevent its execution. It is not so Jonathan gave credit to his father’s oath, mentioned 1 Samuel 19:6.

Verse 3

1 Samuel 20:3. David sware moreover The matter being of great moment, and Jonathan doubting the truth of it, he confirms his word with an oath, which follows in the end of the verse. Only he interposeth a reason why Saul concealed it from Jonathan. Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved What a noble and generous turn does David here give to the behaviour of Saul to Jonathan, lest he should think ill of his father, by insinuating that he had kept this a secret from him out of affection, lest it should give him pain.

Verses 4-5

1 Samuel 20:4-5. Whatsoever thou desirest He does not say, that shall be lawful and honest; for he knew David too well to think he would ask anything that was otherwise. I will do it for thee This is true friendship. Thus Christ testifies his love to us; Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do. And we must testify ours to him by keeping his commandments. Behold, to-morrow is the new-moon There were solemn sacrifices every new-moon, and then a feast upon them. And David being one of the king’s family, by marrying his daughter, used to eat with them at these festival times. That I may hide myself in the field till the third day That is, unto the next day but one after the new-moon. His meaning is not, that he would hide himself in any certain place all the three days, but that he would secure himself, either at Beth-lehem with his friends, or in some other place till the third day.

Verse 6

1 Samuel 20:6. Say, David earnestly asked of me Jonathan, being the king’s son and deputy, used, it seems, to give license to military men to depart for a season upon just occasions. There is a yearly sacrifice for all the family It is likely it was a custom among pious families to meet together once a year, and praise God for his mercies toward them all.

Verse 8

1 Samuel 20:8. Thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant In giving me timely notice, and a true account of Saul’s disposition and intention toward me. A covenant of the Lord That is, a solemn covenant, not lightly undertaken, but seriously entered into, in the name and fear of God, and in his presence, calling him to be the witness of our sincerity therein, and the avenger of perfidiousness in him that breaks it. Slay me I am contented thou shouldest kill me. For why Why shouldest thou betray me to thy father, by concealing his evil intentions from me?

Verses 9-13

1 Samuel 20:9-13. Jonathan said, Far be it from thee Or, rather, Far be this away; for Jonathan is speaking of himself in this thing. Then said David, Who shall tell me? Who shall bring me advice how matters stand? They went out both into the field To take their measures about this matter. Jonathan said, O Lord God of Israel Do thou hear and judge between us. These first words of the sentence seem to be an exclamation, or an abrupt speech, not usual in great passions, and the rest are as if he had said, Shall I, who love thee so much, be thought capable of breaking my word with thee? In all these verses the words are broken, concise, and interrupted: as the words of lovers are wont to be, especially when they are disturbed. But there are a tenderness and sincerity in this exclamation of Jonathan which are scarcely to be equalled. If there be good toward thee I will show it thee, that thou mayest be easy. If it please my father to do thee evil I will send thee away, that thou mayest be safe. Thus he would help to deliver him from evil if it were real, and from the fear of evil if it were but imaginary. The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan If I speak deceitfully, or break my word with my friend: he expresseth himself thus solemnly that David might be fully assured of his sincerity. And thus God has confirmed his promises to us, that we might have strong consolation, Hebrews 6:17-18. The Lord be with thee And protect and prosper thee. Thus, to his protestations, Jonathan adds his hearty prayers for David. As he hath been with my father Formerly, though now he be withdrawn. This intimates his belief that David would be in his father’s place, and his desire that he might prosper in it better than his father now did.

Verse 14

1 Samuel 20:14. And thou shalt show me the kindness of the Lord That kindness to which thou hast engaged thyself, in the covenant sworn between thee and me in God’s presence. The words in the Hebrew run plainly thus: And wilt thou not, if I be then alive, (namely, when God had advanced David to the throne as he had done Saul,) wilt thou not show me the loving-kindness of the Lord? He made no doubt, but rather strongly affirmed his belief of it. That I die not That thou do not kill me or mine, as princes of another line used to kill the nearest relations of the former line, from whom the kingdom was translated to them.

Verse 15

1 Samuel 20:15. Thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house The covenant they had made was not merely personal, but reached to their posterity, and was to be kept even when David should have the greatest power, and there were none to oppose his will. These verses seem strongly to indicate that Jonathan knew of David’s being anointed to the kingdom! How unspeakable a generosity is here shown by Jonathan to stipulate for his own life, and the lives of his posterity, with that man whose life, humanly speaking, was now in his power!

Verses 16-17

1 Samuel 20:16-17. So Jonathan made a covenant The covenant which before was personal, he now extends to the whole house of David, expecting a reciprocal enlargement of it on David’s side, which doubtless he obtained. At the hand of David’s enemies If either I, or any of my house, shall prove enemies to David or to his house, let the Lord, the witness of this covenant, severely punish the violators of it. Jonathan caused David to swear again Hebrew, and Jonathan added or proceeded to swear; that is, having himself sworn to David, or adjured David, in the foregoing verse, he here requires David’s oath to him, by way of restipulation or confirmation. For he loved him, &c. The greatness of his love to him induced him to use every means in his power to secure David’s friendship to himself and his posterity, and to ensure the inviolable observance of this covenant through all their generations.

Verse 19

1 Samuel 20:19. When thou hast stayed three days, &c. This is commonly interpreted of his staying so long with his kindred at Bethlehem. In the Hebrew the words are, Thou shalt three times go down to a very low place; and the meaning seems to be, that if Jonathan did not come to the place appointed the first day, David should take it for granted that he had no information of importance to communicate, and should come again the second day; and if Jonathan brought him no intelligence then, he should come on the third. Houbigant interprets the words, “But on the third day thou shalt come quickly to that place, in which thou shalt hide thyself on the feast-day.” When the business was in hand When this same business which they were now treating about was in agitation formerly; namely, to discover Saul’s mind and purpose toward David, 1 Samuel 19:2-3. By the stone Ezel A stone probably erected to direct travellers in the way: he was to hide himself in some cave or other convenient place near it.

Verses 21-23

1 Samuel 20:21-23. I will send a lad, &c. I will send him before I shoot, to find and take up the arrows which I shall shoot: and I shall shoot them either short of him or beyond him, as I shall see occasion. If I say, Behold the arrows are beyond thee This signal seems to have been agreed on between them, in case Jonathan was so watched and followed, as not to have an opportunity of communing with David by word of mouth. The Lord be between thee and me As a witness and a judge, and between our families for ever, if on either side this league of friendship be violated.

Verses 24-26

1 Samuel 20:24-26. David hid himself in the field Namely, at the time appointed: for it seems probable that he went first to Beth-lehem, and thence returned to the field, when the occasion required. Jonathan arose He rose from his seat where he had sat next the king, and stood up at Abner’s coming, to do honour to him, who was his father’s cousin, and the general of the army. Something hath befallen him Some accident, which has rendered him unclean, and so unfit to partake of this feast, which consisted in part of the remainders of the peace-offerings, according to the law; (Leviticus 7:20;) unfit also to come into any company, much more, into the king’s company, lest he should pollute them also.

Verses 27-28

1 Samuel 20:27-28. Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse? So he calls him in contempt and scorn, to mark the meanness of his original, and as not deigning to call him by his proper name. Neither yesterday nor to-day For the uncleanness that came by some accident usually lasted but for one day. David earnestly asked leave of me Which he, being next to the king, it is likely, had power to grant, as appears from Saul’s demanding of him what was become of David.

Verses 29-30

1 Samuel 20:29-30. My brother, he hath commanded me to be there The eldest brother, it seems, was wont to let all the rest know that their company was expected. Thou son of the perverse, rebellious woman Or rather, according to the Hebrew, Thou son of perverse rebellion; that is, a very perverse rebel. Thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion Made him thy friend to thy utter undoing and disgrace. For men will conclude that thou hast no royal blood in thy veins, that thou canst so tamely give up thy crown to so contemptible a person. The confusion of thy mother’s nakedness To the reproach of her having children, as if she were an adulteress, and thou and the rest base-born, and none of you worthy to inherit the kingdom: or rather, he thus asperses Jonathan’s very birth, as if so degenerate a son could not be his, but must be the offspring of his mother’s guilt, the issue of a criminal commerce with some other man.

Verse 31

1 Samuel 20:31. Thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom Though Samuel had long before this declared to Saul, in the name of the Lord, that the kingdom should not continue with him, nor descend to his posterity; yet he seems to have had hopes that he should be able to prevent this declaration from being verified by his policy and taking proper measures.

Verses 33-34

1 Samuel 20:33-34. Saul cast a javelin to smite him Saul seemed a moment before to be in great care, that Jonathan should be established in his kingdom: and now he himself aims at his life! What fools, what worse than savage beasts, does anger make men! Because Or, and because, &c., for this seems to be a second cause of his grief; his father had done him shame That is, had done shame, not to David, but Jonathan, by giving him such rough words, and throwing a javelin at him. It may, however, be understood of his father’s speaking so contemptuously of David.

Verse 37

1 Samuel 20:37. When the lad was come to the place That is, near to the place: or, and the lad went; or, was going on to the place; for the words following show that he was not yet come thither. The Hebrew word בוא bo, signifies either to come or to go. See Ruth 3:7; and Jonah 1:3.

Verse 40

1 Samuel 20:40. His artillery His bow, and arrows, and quiver.

Verse 41

1 Samuel 20:41. And fell on his face to the ground, &c. After three bows, he fell on his face; out of reverence to Jonathan, as the king’s son, and in tenderness to him, as his most generous friend. They kissed one another, and wept one with another Nothing can be imagined more generous, and, at the same time, more soft and moving, than this meeting of these two friends. Jonathan seems, out of tenderness to David, to have suppressed some part of his grief. But David, who reflected that he was now taking his last leave of a friend who had often saved his life, and was now just come from speaking in his favour, at the imminent hazard of his own life, could not restrain himself. The thought of taking a farewell of so invaluable a friend, and, at the same time, of leaving all his comforts, even those of God’s sanctuary, was so bitter, that he could not bear it with moderation; and therefore is said to have exceeded. Perhaps his temper was more tender, and his passions stronger, than those of Jonathan; who, however, seems evidently to have done great violence to his feelings, and to have had no little difficulty so to restrain his grief as not to sink his friend too much, but to send him away with a calm confidence in God, and religious tranquillity and peace of mind.

Verse 42

1 Samuel 20:42. Jonathan said, The Lord be between thee and me, &c. As much as to say, Fear not but I will faithfully keep my covenant with thee; as I doubt not of thy perpetual steadfastness in it with me and my posterity. And this must be our satisfaction in this sad separation. And he arose and departed That is, David left Jonathan, that he might avoid the effects of Saul’s wrath, and escape immediate destruction; and Jonathan returned to his family and friends. And it appears that these two friends never met again on earth, except once, and that was by stealth in a wood, chap. 23. 16. But their spirits have long been united in the paradise of God, and they shall spend an eternity together in their complete persons, in that world of love and harmony where, the former things being passed away, friends united in heart will be separated no more!