1 Samuel 20 Footnotes

20:6 David’s actions—skipping a required engagement and asking Jonathan to lie about the reason—seem to have violated God’s command to tell the truth (Ex 20:16; Eph 4:25), as well as his duty to the king. Normally his actions would have been wrong, but in these circumstances they were justifiable. David had good reason to believe that Saul intended to kill him, though he had done nothing worthy of death (1Sm 18:11,17,25; 19:1,10-11,15,20-21,23-24). David had the right to protect himself. His plan prevented the king from committing a crime, and preserved an innocent human life. Furthermore, it did not involve the use of physical force against someone, or the destruction of property, see note on 19:13-17.