1 Samuel 20:24-34

24 So David hid in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.

25 The king sat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall; then Jonathan rose up and Abner sat down by Saul's side, but ¹David's place was empty.

26 Nevertheless Saul did not speak anything that day, for he thought, "It is an accident, ²he is not clean, surely he is not clean."

27 It came about the next day, the second day of the new moon, that David's place was empty; so Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"

28 Jonathan then answered Saul, "³David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem,

29 for he said, 'Please let me go, since our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to attend. And now, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers.' For this reason * he has not come to the king's table."

Saul Is Angry with Jonathan

30 Then Saul's anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?

31 "For as long * as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now, send and bring him to me, for ⁴he must surely die."

32 But Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, "⁵Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

33 Then ⁶Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down; ⁷so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death.

34 Then Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David because his father had dishonored him.

1 Samuel 20:24-34 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 20:18
• 2. Leviticus 7:20, 21; Leviticus 15:5; 1 Samuel 16:5
• 3. 1 Samuel 20:6
• 4. 2 Samuel 12:5
• 5. Genesis 31:36; 1 Samuel 19:5; Proverbs 31:9; Matthew 27:23
• 6. 1 Samuel 18:11; 1 Samuel 19:10
• 7. 1 Samuel 20:7

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "send me away"
• [b]. Lit "all the days which"
• [c]. Lit "is a son of death"