1 Samuel 20:33

33 Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.

1 Samuel 20:33 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:33

And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him
So provoked to wrath was he by what he said. It seems by this that Saul always had a javelin or spear in his hand, which is to be accounted for by the custom of those times; in other countries, as well as in this, the kings used to carry spears in their hands instead of sceptres, and which they used as such; so Justin ^F8, speaking of the times of Romulus, says, that kings in those times had spears, as an ensign of royalty, which the Greeks call sceptres; and so the Greeks called sceptres spears ^F9:

whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay
David;
for since he attempted to smite him, his own son, for speaking on his behalf, it might be well concluded, that such was his settled wrath and malice, that he would if possible kill David, could he get him into his hands.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 E Trogo, l. 43. c. 3.
F9 Pausanias in Boeoticis, sive, l. 9. p. 606. Vid. Barthii Animadv. ad Claudian in nupt. Honor ver. 119.

1 Samuel 20:33 In-Context

31 As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!”

32 “But why should he be put to death?” Jonathan asked his father. “What has he done?”

33 Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.

34 Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that second day of the festival, for he was crushed by his father’s shameful behavior toward David.

35 The next morning, as agreed, Jonathan went out into the field and took a young boy with him to gather his arrows.