1David consulteth with Jonathan how to provide for his safety. 11The friendly league between them confirmed by oath. 18They agree upon a token. 24David absenting himself from the king's table is excused by Jonathan; Saul being enraged seeketh to kill Jonathan. 35Jonathan informeth David of his danger by the token agreed on. 41The two friends take a loving leave of each other.
1AND1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and 2came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, 3that he seeketh my life?
1 Namely, when Saul, being thus ravished in his spirit, prophesied and abode a day and a night at Naioth.
2 Namely, to Gibeah of Saul, where Jonathan then kept court, being his father’s deputy.
3 That is, that he seeks to kill me; as Mat. 2:20.
2And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, 4my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew 5it me: and why should my father hide this thing 6from me? it is not so.
4 The godly Jonathan was deceived in his mind, having too good an opinion of his father, who discovered not to him his will and intent against David.
5 See the annotation at Ruth 4:4.
6 Or, before me.
3And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father 7certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he 8saith, Let not Jonathan know this, 9lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is 10but a step between me and death.
7 Hebr. knowing know.
8 Namely, within himself, in his own heart; that is, he thought.
9 Or, lest it grieve him.
10 That is, I am assuredly in danger of death.
4Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul 11desireth, I will even do it for thee.
11 That is, saith. See Gen. 34:3.
5And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is 12the new moon, 13and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but 14let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
12 On which day they were wont to feast; and to make merry together, after they had offered thank offerings.
13 Hebr. that I sitting should sit, namely, after the sacrifice that was kept; see Num. 10:10.
14 That is, give me leave to stay away until the evening of the third day of the new moon, and then I will be in the field: but I will first go to Bethlehem to keep there the feast of the new moon with my kindred. See verses 19, 35.
6If thy father at all miss me, then say, David 15earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem 16his city: for there is a 17yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
15 Hebr. desiring desired.
16 That is, to Bethlehem where he was born; as John 7:42. See Gen. 23:10; 24:10.
17 Hebr. an offering of days, that is, of a full and complete year. See Lev. 25:29. Namely, a thank offering, at which a feast was then kept. See the annotation 1 Sam. 9:12.
7If he say thus, It is well; 18thy servant shall have peace: but if he be 19very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
18Thy servant, that is, I.
19 Hebr. being kindled be kindled.
820Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; fora thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for 21why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
20 That is, show me this favor and kindness, that you give me notice in time.
a 1 Sam. 18:3.
21 Namely, to be put to death by him. As if he had said: Thou thyself hast power to put me to death, if I have deserved it, without bringing me to thy father to be put to death by him.
9And Jonathan said, 22Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
22 Namely, that thou wouldest be put to death.
10Then said David to Jonathan, 23Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee 24roughly?
23 Other, Who shall make the good thing known to me, or, if, etc.
24 Namely, that he threatened to slay me, or something similar.
11¶And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
12And Jonathan said unto David, 25O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the 26third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
25 Others, The Lord, the God of Israel: and thus did Jonathan call upon God to be a Witness of his sincerity.
26 This was the second day after the new moon; for this communication of Jonathan with David happened the day before the new moon, verse 5.
1327The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: 28but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and 29the LORD be with thee, 30as he hath been with my father.
27 See of this phrase, Ruth 1:17.
28 That is, if I perceive that my father has an intention to hurt thee.
29 Namely, when thou shalt be king after my father’s decease. Hence it may be gathered that Jonathan well knew that David would be king, as being already anointed by Samuel. Jonathan was ready and willing to yield obedience to the ordinance of God, although he was Saul’s eldest son, and the next heir apparent to the crown.
30 Namely, when He blessed him and gave him victory.
14And thou shalt not only while 31yet I live shew me 32the kindness of the LORD, 33that I die not:
31 Namely, when thou shalt be king.
32 That is, a kindness which is acceptable and well-pleasing to the Lord; or, he means the friendship and faithfulness which they had sworn one to another before the Lord.
33 That is, that thou put me not to death, permitting me to suffer for the violence and injustice which my father is busy towards thee.
15But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my 34house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
34 That is, family, kindred, kinsmen.
16So Jonathan 35made a covenant with the house of David, saying, 36Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
35 That is, he renewed and ratified the covenant, formerly entered into with David, 1 Sam. 18:3.
36 Jonathan, to assure David to the full, wishes with an oath God’s just vengeance on David’s enemies, of which number he would be accounted one, if he came to break the covenant. Some take it thus, that Jonathan here makes an oath to David, that God will require it at David’s hand if on his part he would break the covenant, naming David’s enemies instead of David himself. Compare 1 Sam. 25:22 with the annotation. Some translate it thus: (But the Lord required it at the hand of David’s enemies), intimating that David indeed kept this covenant as much as was in him, but that God notwithstanding has executed His just judgment upon Saul’s house.
17And 37Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: 38for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
37 First Jonathan made an oath unto David, and vowed to protect him, verse 13; now Jonathan requires that David would also promise him and satisfy his promise with an oath, that he will show mercy and kindness both to him and his own, when he would come to be king.
38 That is, he loved him so as his soul, that is, as entirely as he did himself.
18Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and 39come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the 40business was in hand, and shalt remain 41by the stone Ezel.
39 Namely, from Bethlehem.
40 Namely, when I would speak to my father in thy behalf. See 1 Sam. 19:2.
41 Other, by the stone that sheweth the way, that is, a stone that stands by the way-side, and shows the traveler which way he must go; or, by the stone of going, that is, whither thou and I are wont to go, when we have occasion to talk together in private.
20And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot 42at a mark.
42 Other, at an aim.
21And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, 43find out the arrows. If I 44expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take 45them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, 46and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.
43 Hebr. find the arrows, that is, seek the arrows till you have found them.
44 Hebr. saying say.
45 Namely, the youth. Other, take them, namely, the arrows.
46 Namely, there is nothing in the way, or a matter for which thou hast to fear.
22But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; 47go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
47 As if he would say: By these words, or by this sign thou mayest know and gather, that it is God’s will that thou shouldest for a while keep out of the way, and not come to court.
23Andbas touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be 48between thee and me for ever.
b verse 42.
48 Namely, witness.
24¶So David 49hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat 50meat.
49 Namely, till the appointed time, of which mention is made in verses 5, 19, during which time was effected what is related in the eleven following verses.
50 Hebr. at the bread, as verse 27.
25And the king sat upon his seat, 51as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: 52and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
51 Hebr. as time in time, as Num. 24:1; and Judges 16:20.
52 Namely, to give place to Abner, to let him sit above him, for Abner was Saul’s uncle, and besides captain general.
26Nevertheless Saul 53spake not any thing that day: for 54he thought, Something hath befallen 55him, he is 56not clean; surely he is not clean.57
53 Namely, of David; that is, he did not ask why David was not come to meal.
54 Namely, within himself; that is, he thought.
55 Hebr. it is an accident.
56 Many things are recorded in the law that made men unclean. See Lev. 11:24; 15:16. Now the unclean persons were forbidden to eat of the flesh which was offered up unto the Lord, Lev. 7:19, 20, 21; yea, they were also to abstain from the society of other men, that others by means of them might not be made unclean.
57 Understand in addition: and therefore he is not come.
27And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, 58Wherefore cometh not 59the son of Jesse 60to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
58 Saul might well think that David had great cause to remain out of his sight, seeing Saul had sought to take away his life: But he thought that David would ascribe it to his madness or frenzy, and would not be afraid of him, seeing he was now come to his right senses again.
59 Thus he calls David in a scornful and contemptible manner, not even thinking that he himself was the son of Kish.
60 Hebr. to the bread, or, at meat, as verse 24.
28And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:
29And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath 61commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.
61 Namely, in my father’s name, whom I am bound to obey.
30Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son 62of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and 63unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
62 That is, of a perverse rebellious mother.
63 As if Saul would say: Doing thus, thou wilt not be held to be my legitimate son, but a bastard, whom thy mother hath conceived and brought forth out of wedlock.
31For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, 64for he shall surely die.
64 As if we would say: He is a dead man; that is, he is worthy of death, he must surely die. So it is said, Eph. 2:3 children of wrath. See 2 Sam. 12:5.
32And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33And Saul cast a javelin 65at him to smite 66him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
65 Other, toward him.
66 Even as he meant to have done to David.
34So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
35¶And it came to pass 67in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed 68with David, and a little lad with him.
67 Namely, on the third day of the new moon.
68 See verse 19.
36And he said unto his lad, Run, 69find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, 70he shot an arrow beyond him.
69 Hebr. find. See verse 21.
70 Namely, Jonathan.
37And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?
38And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40And Jonathan gave his 71artilleryc unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
71 Other, armor. Hebr. vessels; that is, instruments, as his bow, quiver, and arrows. With these Jonathan sent his youth to the city, that being alone, he might the more freely talk with David.
c weapon, equipment
41¶And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place 72toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed 73one another, and wept one with another, 74until David exceeded.
72 Understand here the south side of the field wherein they were; or, the south side of the stone, by which David had hid himself.
73 Hebr. the man his neighbour.
74 Hebr. until David made it great, namely, with weeping.
42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And 75he arose and departed: and Jonathan went 76into the city.
75 Namely, David.
76 Namely, at Gibeah of Saul, where he had his house, as may be gathered 1 Sam. 23:18, 19.