1 Samuel 20:8

8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, ¹for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. ²But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?"

1 Samuel 20:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:8

Therefore thou shall deal kindly with thy servant
By informing him how his father's mind stood affected to him, that he might conduct himself accordingly, either by appearing at court, or by providing for his safety by flight:

for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with
thee;
a covenant of friendship between Jonathan and David, of which Jonathan was the first mover, and so is said to bring or persuade him into it; called the covenant of the Lord, because made in his name and fear, and before him as a witness of it; and this David pleads as an argument with Jonathan, to deal kindly and faithfully by him in the present case:

notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself:
or pass sentence upon him to be slain; which, if guilty, he might have power to do in his father's absence, and which David desires might be done, notwithstanding the covenant of friendship between them, should he appear to deserve it by any action of his, of which he was not conscious; this expresses the strong sense he had of his own integrity, and served to confirm Jonathan in his opinion of it;

for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
deliver him up into his hands to be put to a cruel death by him, or give him the trouble of doing it, when he might as well dispatch him at once.

1 Samuel 20:8 In-Context

6 If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.'

7 If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him.

8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?"

9 And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?"

10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?"

Cross References

• 1. ver. 16, 42; 1 Samuel 18:3; 1 Samuel 23:18; [2 Samuel 21:7]
• 2. 2 Samuel 14:32