1 Samuel 20:1

1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done ? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

1 Samuel 20:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:1

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah
While Saul was prophesying, or lay in a trance there:

and came;
to Gibeah, where Saul dwelt, and had his palace, and kept his court:

and said before Jonathan;
whom he found there, and for whose sake he thither fled to have his advice, and to use his interest with his father, and be his friend at court:

what have I done? what [is] mine iniquity? and what [is] my sin before
thy father, that he seeketh my life?
surely, as if he should say, I must have been guilty of some very great crime, and yet I am not sensible of it; canst thou tell me what it is that has so provoked thy father, that nothing will satisfy him but the taking away of my life, which he seeks to do?

1 Samuel 20:1 In-Context

1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done ? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die : behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

3 And David sware moreover, and said , Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith , Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved : but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth , I will even do it for thee.

5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat : but let me go , that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.