---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  1 Samuel 20"
description: "CHAPTER 20   :-. 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"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/1-samuel/20"
---

CHAPTER 20

. 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 ([1 Samuel 20:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/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.
. 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
([1 Samuel 20:16](../../../kjv/1-samuel/20/16)) denounced on any of
them who should violate his part of the conditions, the reiteration
of this covenant on both sides ([1 Samuel 20:16](../../../kjv/1-samuel/20/16)) 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 ().
**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.
. 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 [[Acts 20:28](../../../kjv/acts/20/28); [Acts 20:29](../../../kjv/acts/20/29)],
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.
[1 Samuel 20:41](../../../kjv/1-samuel/20/41);
[1 Samuel 20:42](../../../kjv/1-samuel/20/42). 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.

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