1 Samuel 20:13

13 {So may Yahweh punish Jonathan and more} if {my father decides to do you harm} and if {I fail to disclose it to you} and send word to you that you can go safely. And may Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.

1 Samuel 20:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:13

The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan
Recompense evil more than can be thought of and expressed, should he neglect to inform David of the good disposition of Saul unto him:

but if it please my father [to do] thee evil;
if he seems determined upon it to take away thy life:

then I will show it thee;
not by a messenger, by whom it would not be safe to communicate it, lest by that means Saul would know where he was, and come and slay him; but Jonathan would come himself, and acquaint him with it:

and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace;
give him leave, and advise him to depart, and provide for his own safety, adding his blessing on him, and prayer for him:

and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father;
in the beginning of his reign, giving him counsel and advice in all things, and victory over his enemies, succeeding and prospering him in whatsoever he engaged in; the Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord be for thy help''

Jonathan seemed to be fully apprized that David was to succeed in the kingdom.

1 Samuel 20:13 In-Context

11 And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out to the field." So the two of them went out to the field.
12 Then Jonathan said to David, "Yahweh the God of Israel [is my witness] that I will question my father {by this time the day after tomorrow}. And look, {if he is well disposed toward you}, will I not send [word] to you and {disclose it to you}?
13 {So may Yahweh punish Jonathan and more} if {my father decides to do you harm} and if {I fail to disclose it to you} and send word to you that you can go safely. And may Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.
14 And not while I am still alive, will you not show the loyal love of Yahweh with me, that I may not die?
15 And do not cut off your loyal love from {my family} forever, not [even] when Yahweh {exterminates} each of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Literally "So may Yahweh do to Jonathan and so may he add"
  • [b]. Literally "the evil over you [is] regarded as good by my father"
  • [c]. Literally "I will reveal [it] to your ear"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.