1 Samuel 20:20

20 On the third day I will shoot an arrow to the side of the mound as if aiming at a target.

1 Samuel 20:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:20

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 20:20 In-Context

18 "Tomorrow is the festival of the new moon," Jonathan told David. "You will be missed because your seat will be empty.

19 The day after tomorrow, go all the way to the spot where you hid on the day of the incident, and stay close to that mound.

20 On the third day I will shoot an arrow to the side of the mound as if aiming at a target.

21 Then I'll send the servant boy, saying, ‘Go retrieve the arrow.' If I yell to the boy, ‘Hey! The arrow is on this side of you. Get it!' then you can come out because it will be safe for you. There won't be any trouble—I make a pledge on the LORD's life.

22 But if I yell to the young man, ‘Hey! The arrow is past you,' then run for it, because the LORD has sent you away.

Footnotes

• [a]. Correction; MT arrows (plural here and in 20:21-22, 36, 38 Qere)