1 Samuel 20:24

24 And David hid himself in the field; and it was the new moon, and the king sat at table to eat.

1 Samuel 20:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:24

So David hid himself in the field
Not directly, but at the time appointed; for he went to Bethlehem, and returned from thence before that time:

and when the new moon was come;
the first clay of the month, which was a solemn festival:

the king sat him down to eat meat;
Saul sat down at his table to eat of the provisions that were set upon it; which it is very probable were the peace offerings for that day, which he, his family, and nobles, feasted on together; it is in the Hebrew, "he sat down at the bread" {b}, which is put for all the food on the table, and the provisions of it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (Mxlh le) "ad [vel] juxta panem", Pagninus, Montanus.

1 Samuel 20:24 In-Context

22 But if I say thus to the youth: Behold, the arrows are beyond thee, -- go thy way; for Jehovah sends thee away.

23 And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between me and thee for ever.

24 And David hid himself in the field; and it was the new moon, and the king sat at table to eat.

25 And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

26 And Saul said nothing that day; for he thought, Something has befallen [him], that he is not clean: surely he is not clean.