1 Samuel 20:10

10 Then said David to Yonatan, Who shall tell me if perchance your father answer you roughly?

1 Samuel 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:10

Then said David to Jonathan, who shall tell me?
&c.] The disposition of Saul's mind towards him, whether he gave a kind answer to the report of Jonathan concerning him:

or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?
or hard words, as the Targum, whether he answers in a kind, loving, and smooth manner, or whether in a rough and angry one: the question is here, how he should be informed of this, since especially, if in the latter, it would not be safe for Jonathan to come himself to him, nor could he well trust the message with any other. Abarbinel thinks, that the first of these expressions is by way of question, who should declare to him his father's will and intention, whether good or bad: and the latter by way of outcry, woe unto me, if thy father should answer thee roughly; I greatly fear he will chide thee for my sake; my heart will be filled with sorrow if thou shouldest suffer reproach and rebuke on my account.

1 Samuel 20:10 In-Context

8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant; for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you: but if there be in me iniquity, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?

9 Yonatan said, Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn't I tell you that?

10 Then said David to Yonatan, Who shall tell me if perchance your father answer you roughly?

11 Yonatan said to David, Come, and let us go out into the field. They went out both of them into the field.

12 Yonatan said to David, the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?