1 Samuele 20:3

3 Ma Davide replicò, giurando: "Tuo padre sa molto bene che io ho trovato grazia agli occhi tuoi; perciò avrà detto: Gionathan non sappia questo, affinché non ne abbia dispiacere; ma com’è vero che l’Eterno vive e che vive l’anima tua, fra me e la morte non v’ha che un passo".

1 Samuele 20:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:3

And David sware moreover, and said
To assure Jonathan of the truth of it, that he did most certainly seek after his life, of which, as he had no doubt himself, by an oath he endeavoured to remove any that might be in Jonathan, who was not willing to believe his father could be guilty of so foul a crime:

thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes:
that he was high in his favour, that he had a great value for him, and he had a large share in his love and friendship, and that was the reason why he hid from him his base intentions:

and he saith, let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;
as he would be, both for the evil his father would be guilty of, and the danger David, his beloved friend, would be in:

but truly, [as] the Lord liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is]
but a step between me and death;
as appeared by his casting a javelin at him, ( 1 Samuel 18:11 ) , sending messengers to his own house to slay him, ( 1 Samuel 19:11 ) , and others to Naioth to seize him, ( 1 Samuel 19:20 ) , and coming himself thither with an intention to kill him, ( 1 Samuel 19:22 1 Samuel 19:23 ) , and in each of these instances he had a narrow escape for his life; and this he declared in the most solemn manner by an oath, for the confirmation of the truth of it to Jonathan.

1 Samuele 20:3 In-Context

1 Davide fuggì da Naioth presso Rama, andò a trovare Gionathan, e gli disse: "Che ho mai fatto? Qual è il mio delitto, qual è il mio peccato verso tuo padre, ch’egli vuole la mia vita?"

2 Gionathan gli rispose: "Tolga ciò Iddio! tu non morrai; ecco, mio padre non fa cosa alcuna o grande o piccola, senza farmene parte; e perché mi celerebbe egli questa? Non è possibile".

3 Ma Davide replicò, giurando: "Tuo padre sa molto bene che io ho trovato grazia agli occhi tuoi; perciò avrà detto: Gionathan non sappia questo, affinché non ne abbia dispiacere; ma com’è vero che l’Eterno vive e che vive l’anima tua, fra me e la morte non v’ha che un passo".

4 Gionathan disse a Davide: "Che desideri tu ch’io ti faccia?"

5 Davide rispose a Gionathan: "Ecco, domani la luna nuova, e io dovrei sedermi a mensa col re; lasciami andare, e mi nasconderò per la campagna fino alla sera del terzo giorno.