1 Samuel 20:12

12 and Jonathan said to David, "May the Lord God of Israel be our witness! At this time tomorrow and on the following day I will question my father. If his attitude toward you is good, I will send you word.

1 Samuel 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:12

And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel
Or by the Lord God of Israel, I swear unto thee; for this is the form of the oath, as Jarchi and Kimchi observe:

when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time, [or] the third
[day];
searched, inquired, and found out how his disposition is:

and, behold, [if there be] good toward David;
if he is well disposed to him, as may appear by speaking respectfully of him, or kindly inquiring after him, and by being satisfied with the account given him:

and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee;
then let the vengeance of God fall upon me in some remarkable manner or another, as follows; or "shall I not then send unto thee, and show it thee" ^F20? certainly I will; that is, I will send a messenger to thee to acquaint thee with it, who shall tell it, and cause thee to hear it, as from myself.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (Kyla xlva za alw) "an non tune mitterem?" Junius & Tremellius; "nonne tunc mittam ad te?" so some in Vatablus.

1 Samuel 20:12 In-Context

10 David then asked, "Who will let me know if your father answers you angrily?"

11 "Let's go out to the fields," Jonathan answered. So they went,

12 and Jonathan said to David, "May the Lord God of Israel be our witness! At this time tomorrow and on the following day I will question my father. If his attitude toward you is good, I will send you word.

13 If he intends to harm you, may the Lord strike me dead if I don't let you know about it and get you safely away. May the Lord be with you as he was with my father!

14 And if I remain alive, please keep your sacred promise and be loyal to me; but if I die,

Footnotes

• [a]. [One ancient translation] be our witness; [Hebrew does not have these words.]