1 Samuel 20:30-42

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 ¹he must surely die."

32 But Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, "²Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

33 Then ³Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down; ⁴so 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.

35 Now it came about in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field for the appointment with David, and a little lad was with him.

36 He said to his lad, "⁵Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot." As the lad was running, he shot an arrow past him.

37 When the lad reached the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the lad and said, "⁶Is not the arrow beyond * you?"

38 And Jonathan called after the lad, "Hurry, be quick, do not stay!" And Jonathan's lad picked up the arrow and came to his master.

39 But the lad was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter.

40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad and said to him, "Go, bring them to the city."

41 When the lad was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground, and ⁷bowed three times. And they kissed each other and wept together *, but ⁸David wept the more.

42 Jonathan said to David, "⁹Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the LORD, saying, '¹⁰The LORD will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever *.' " Then he rose and departed, while Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 20:30-42 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. 2 Samuel 12:5
• 2. Genesis 31:36; 1 Samuel 19:5; Proverbs 31:9; Matthew 27:23
• 3. 1 Samuel 18:11; 1 Samuel 19:10
• 4. 1 Samuel 20:7
• 5. 1 Samuel 20:20, 21
• 6. 1 Samuel 20:22
• 7. Genesis 42:6
• 8. 1 Samuel 18:3
• 9. 1 Samuel 20:22
• 10. 1 Sam 20:15, 16, 23

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "all the days which"
• [b]. Lit "is a son of death"
• [c]. Lit "the"
• [d]. Lit "seed"
• [e]. Lit "seed"
• [f]. Ch 21:1 in Heb