Kings I 20:9

9 And Jonathan said, That be far from thee: for if I surely know that evil is determined by my father to come upon thee, although it should not be against thy cities, I will tell thee.

Kings I 20:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:9

Wherefore he sent unto the messengers of Benhadad
Upon the advice the elders had given him, and encouraged thereby, though in a poor sneaking manner after all:

tell my lord the king, all that thou didst send for to thy servant at
the first I will do;
owning him as his lord, and himself as his servant, and promising to grant his first demand, though so insolent, in the sense he understood him, of paying tribute to him for it:

but this thing I may not do;
to have not only all put into his hands, but his and his servant's houses to be searched and pillaged, because the elders of his people would not agree; and yet he seems to speak as if he himself would have submitted to it, but was restrained by his council:

and the messengers departed, and brought him word again;
reported to Benhadad the answer they received from Ahab.

Kings I 20:9 In-Context

7 If he shall say thus, Well, — safe for thy servant: but if he shall answer harshly to thee, know that evil is determined by him.

8 And thou shalt deal mercifully with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thyself: and if there is iniquity in thy servant, slay me thyself; but why dost thou thus bring me to thy father?

9 And Jonathan said, That be far from thee: for if I surely know that evil is determined by my father to come upon thee, although it should not be against thy cities, I will tell thee.

10 And David said to Jonathan, Who can tell me if thy father should answer roughly?

11 And Jonathan said to David, Go, and abide in the field. And they went out both into the field.