1 Samuel 19:3

3 I'll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what [he says], I'll tell you."^[a]

1 Samuel 19:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 19:3

And I will go out
In the morning, at the same time his father used to take his morning walk:

and stand beside my father in the field where thou [art];
on that side of him next to David, that he might not see him, and yet be so near, that David might hear what passed between them:

and I will commune with my father of thee;
speak in favour of him, and endeavour to dissuade him from attempting to take away his life, which was of so much importance and usefulness in the commonwealth of Israel:

and what I see that I will tell thee;
what David could not well hear he would inform him of, and what he could perceive in the countenance of Saul, as well as conclude from his words, that he would make known to David, that so he might know better what he had to do, and provide for his safety.

1 Samuel 19:3 In-Context

1 Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much,

2 so he told him: "My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there.

3 I'll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what [he says], I'll tell you."

4 Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: "The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn't sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you.

5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?"

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 20:32-33