1 Samuel 20

1Sa 20:1-10.

DAVID

CONSULTS WITH

JONATHAN FOR

HIS

SAFETY.

1-3. David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before

Jonathan--He could not remain in Naioth, for he had strong reason to

fear that when the religious fit, if we may so call it, was over, Saul

would relapse into his usual fell and sanguinary temper. It may be

thought that David acted imprudently in directing his flight to Gibeah.

But he was evidently prompted to go thither by the most generous

feelings--to inform his friend of what had recently occurred, and to

obtain that friend's sanction to the course he was compelled to adopt.

Jonathan could not be persuaded there was any real danger after the

oath his father had taken; at all events, he felt assured his father

would do nothing without telling him. Filial attachment naturally

blinded the prince to defects in the parental character and made him

reluctant to believe his father capable of such atrocity. David

repeated his unshaken convictions of Saul's murderous purpose, but in

terms delicately chosen

(1Sa 20:3),

not to wound the filial feelings of his friend; while Jonathan,

clinging, it would seem, to a hope that the extraordinary scene enacted

at Naioth might have wrought a sanctified improvement on Saul's temper

and feelings, undertook to inform David of the result of his

observations at home.

5. David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow the new moon, and I

should not fail to sit with the king at meat--The beginning of a new

month or moon was always celebrated by special sacrifices, followed by

feasting, at which the head of a family expected all its members to be

present. David, both as the king's son-in-law and a distinguished

courtier, dined on such occasions at the royal table, and from its

being generally known that David had returned to Gibeah, his presence

in the palace would be naturally expected. This occasion was chosen by

the two friends for testing the king's state of feeling. As a suitable

pretext for David's absence, it was arranged that he should visit his

family at Beth-lehem, and thus create an opportunity of ascertaining how

his non-appearance would be viewed. The time and place were fixed for

Jonathan reporting to David; but as circumstances might render another

interview unsafe, it was deemed expedient to communicate by a concerted

signal.

1Sa 20:11-23.

THEIR

COVENANT

RENEWED BY

OATH.

11. Jonathan said to David, Come, let us go into the field--The

private dialogue, which is here detailed at full length, presents a

most beautiful exhibition of these two amiable and noble-minded

friends. Jonathan was led, in the circumstances, to be the chief

speaker. The strength of his attachment, his pure disinterestedness,

his warm piety, his invocation to God (consisting of a prayer and a

solemn oath combined), the calm and full expression he gave of his

conviction that his own family were, by the divine will, to be

disinherited, and David elevated to the possession of the throne, the

covenant entered into with David on behalf of his descendants, and the

imprecation

(1Sa 20:16)

denounced on any of them who should violate his part of the conditions,

the reiteration of this covenant on both sides

(1Sa 20:17)

to make it indissoluble--all this indicates such a power of mutual

affection, such magnetic attractiveness in the character of David, such

susceptibility and elevation of feeling in the heart of Jonathan, that

this interview for dramatic interest and moral beauty stands unrivalled

in the records of human friendship.

19. when thou hast stayed three days--either with your family at

Beth-lehem, or wherever you find it convenient.

come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was

in hand--Hebrew, "in the day," or "time of the business," when

the same matter was under inquiry formerly

(1Sa 19:22).

remain by the stone Ezel--Hebrew, "the stone of the way"; a sort

of milestone which directed travellers. He was to conceal himself in

some cave or hiding-place near that spot.

23. as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of--The plan

being concerted, the friends separated for a time, and the amiable

character of Jonathan again peers out in his parting allusion to their

covenant of friendship.

1Sa 20:24-40.

SAUL,

MISSING

DAVID,

SEEKS TO

KILL

JONAHAN.

25. the king sat upon his seat, as at other times . . . by the

wall--The left-hand corner at the upper end of a room was and still

is in the East, the most honorable place. The person seated there has

his left arm confined by the wall, but his right hand is at full

liberty. From Abner's position next the king, and David's seat being

left empty, it would seem that a state etiquette was observed at the

royal table, each of the courtiers and ministers having places assigned

them according to their respective gradations of rank.

Jonathan arose--either as a mark of respect on the entrance of the

king, or in conformity with the usual Oriental custom for a son to

stand in presence of his father.

26. he is not clean--No notice was taken of David's absence, as he

might be laboring under some ceremonial defilement.

27. on the morrow, which was the second day of the month--The time of

the moon's appearance being uncertain--whether at midday, in the

evening, or at midnight, the festival was extended over two days.

Custom, not the law, had introduced this.

Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of

Jesse--The question was asked, as it were, casually, and with as great

an air of indifference as he could assume. And Jonathan having replied

that David had asked and obtained his permission to attend a family

anniversary at Beth-lehem

[Ac 20:28, 29],

the pent-up passions of the king burst out in a most violent storm of

rage and invective against his son.

30. Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman--This is a striking

Oriental form of abuse. Saul was not angry with his wife; it was the

son alone, upon whom he meant, by this style of address, to discharge

his resentment. The principle on which it is founded seems to be, that

to a genuine filial instinct it is a more inexpiable offense to hear

the name or character of a parent traduced, than any personal reproach.

This was, undoubtedly, one cause of "the fierce anger" in which the

high-minded prince left the table without tasting a morsel.

33. Saul cast a javelin at him--This is a sad proof of the maniacal

frenzy into which the unhappy monarch was transported.

35. Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed--or,

"at the place appointed."

36. he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I

shoot--The direction given aloud to the attendant was the signal

preconcerted with David. It implied danger.

40. Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad--that is, his missive

weapons. The French word artillerie, signifies "archery." The term

is still used in England, in the designation of the "artillery company

of London," the association of archers, though they have long disused

bows and arrows. Jonathan's boy being despatched out of the way, the

friends enjoyed the satisfaction of a final meeting.

1Sa 20:41, 42.

JONATHAN AND

DAVID

LOVINGLY

PART.

41, 42. David . . . fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three

times--a token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close

approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the

purest brotherly affection.

42. Jonathan said to David, Go in peace--The interview being a stolen

one, and every moment precious, it was kindness in Jonathan to hasten

his friend's departure.