Shmuel Alef 20:10

10 Then said Dovid to Yonatan, Who shall tell me? Or what if avicha answer thee roughly?

Shmuel Alef 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:10

Then said David to Jonathan, who shall tell me?
&c.] The disposition of Saul's mind towards him, whether he gave a kind answer to the report of Jonathan concerning him:

or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?
or hard words, as the Targum, whether he answers in a kind, loving, and smooth manner, or whether in a rough and angry one: the question is here, how he should be informed of this, since especially, if in the latter, it would not be safe for Jonathan to come himself to him, nor could he well trust the message with any other. Abarbinel thinks, that the first of these expressions is by way of question, who should declare to him his father's will and intention, whether good or bad: and the latter by way of outcry, woe unto me, if thy father should answer thee roughly; I greatly fear he will chide thee for my sake; my heart will be filled with sorrow if thou shouldest suffer reproach and rebuke on my account.

Shmuel Alef 20:10 In-Context

8 Therefore thou shalt deal with chesed unto thy eved; for thou hast brought thy eved into Brit Hashem with thee; notwithstanding, if there be in me avon (iniquity), slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to avicha?

9 And Yonatan said, Chalilah (far be it) from thee; for if I had da’as certainly that ra’ah were determined by Avi to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?

10 Then said Dovid to Yonatan, Who shall tell me? Or what if avicha answer thee roughly?

11 And Yonatan said unto Dovid, Come, and let us go out into the sadeh. And they went out both of them into the sadeh.

12 And Yonatan said unto Dovid, Hashem Elohei Yisroel, when I have sounded out Avi at this time on Yom HaShishi from now, and, hinei, if there be tov toward Dovid, and I then send not unto thee, and reveal it in thy ozen (ear);