1 Samuel 20:6

6 If your father takes note of my absence, tell him, ‘David begged my permission to run down to his hometown Bethlehem, because there is an annual sacrifice there for his whole family.'

1 Samuel 20:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:6

If thy father at all miss me
Or diligently inquires after me:

then say, David earnestly asked leave of me, that he might run to
Bethlehem his city:
the place of his birth, called the city of David, where he was born and had lived, ( Luke 2:4 ) ( John 7:42 ) , which was not far from Gibeah, and whither he could soon run; and which shows the haste he proposed to make, and his eager desire to be there, and which also is signified by his earnest and importunate request; for all this might be true, and no lie of David, framed for an excuse; and after he had hid himself some time in the field, until it was evening, he might go to Bethlehem, and return soon enough to meet Jonathan in the field at the time fixed by them on the third day:

for [there] is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family;
it was customary for the family of Jesse one day in a year, and as it should seem on a first day of the month, and perhaps the first day of the first month, or New Year's Day, to have an anniversary feast by way of gratitude and thankfulness for the mercies of the year past, and for the continuance of them for time to come; in which the family rejoiced together at the great goodness of God unto them, ( 1 Samuel 9:12 ) .

1 Samuel 20:6 In-Context

4 "What do you want me to do?" Jonathan said to David. "I'll do it."

5 "Okay, listen," David answered Jonathan. "Tomorrow is the new moon, and I'm supposed to sit with the king at the feast. Instead, let me go and I'll hide in the field until nighttime.

6 If your father takes note of my absence, tell him, ‘David begged my permission to run down to his hometown Bethlehem, because there is an annual sacrifice there for his whole family.'

7 If Saul says ‘Fine,' then I, your servant, am safe. But if he loses his temper, then you'll know for certain that he intends to harm me.

8 So be loyal to your servant, because you've brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. If I'm guilty, then kill me yourself; just don't take me back to your father."