1 Samuel 20:1-8

David and Jonathan Covenant

1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and ¹said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?"

2 He said to him, "Far from it, you shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing * either great or small without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!"

3 Yet David ²vowed 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 ³as 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 ⁴the new moon, and I ought ⁵to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, ⁶that 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 ⁷Bethlehem his city, because it is ⁸the 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, ⁹know that he has decided on evil.

8 "Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for ¹⁰you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But ¹¹if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?"

1 Samuel 20:1-8 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.

Cross References

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

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "before"
• [b]. Lit "and he does not uncover my ear"
• [c]. Lit "and said"
• [d]. Lit "about"
• [e]. Lit "your soul says"
• [f]. Lit "says thus"