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1 Samuel 20:3-13

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3 Yet David 1vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.' But truly 2as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death."
4 Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you."
5 So David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is 3the new moon, and I ought 4to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, 5that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.
6 "If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to 6Bethlehem his city, because it is 7the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.'
7 "If he says, 'It is good,' your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, 8know that he has decided on evil.
8 "Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for 9you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But 10if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?"
9 Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?"
10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if * your father answers you harshly?"
11 Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." So both of them went out to the field.
12 Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known * to you?
13 "If it please my father to do you harm, 11may the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not make it known * to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And 12may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.
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1 Samuel 20:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 20

David fleeing from Naioth came to Jonathan, and acquainted him with his circumstances, and entreated his favour, 1Sa 20:1-8; which Jonathan promised, and renewed the covenant with him, 1Sa 20:9-17; a scheme was formed between them, by which David might know whether Saul was reconciled to him, and he might come to court, 1Sa 20:18-23; which being tried, Jonathan found it was not safe for him to appear, 1Sa 20:24-34; of which he gave notice by the signals agreed on, 1Sa 20:35-40; and they took their leave of one another with strong expressions of affection and attachment to each other, 1Sa 20:41,42.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 12

  • 1. Deuteronomy 6:13
  • 2. 1 Samuel 25:26; 2 Kings 2:6
  • 3. Numbers 10:10; Numbers 28:11-15; Amos 8:5
  • 4. 1 Samuel 20:24, 27
  • 5. 1 Samuel 19:2
  • 6. 1 Samuel 17:58
  • 7. Deuteronomy 12:5; 1 Samuel 9:12
  • 8. 1 Samuel 25:17
  • 9. 1 Samuel 18:3; 1 Samuel 23:18
  • 10. 2 Samuel 14:32
  • 11. Ruth 1:17; 1 Samuel 3:17
  • 12. Joshua 1:5; 1 Samuel 17:37; 1 Samuel 18:12; 1 Chronicles 22:11, 16

Footnotes 7

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.