Shmuel Alef 20:28

28 And Yonatan answered Sha’ul, Dovid earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beit-Lechem;

Shmuel Alef 20:28 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:28

And Jonathan answered Saul
In reply to Saul's question, and to excuse David, he said,

David earnestly asked [leave] of me [to go] to Bethlehem;
his own city, his native place, where his family lived, whom he was desirous to see, and yet chose not to go without asking leave; and as Saul was not at home, he asked leave of Jonathan, who was next to him, and acted for him; and he was very pressing and importunate in his suit, and therefore Jonathan could not well deny him it; and he hoped this would ben sufficient excuse for his absence, especially when what follows should be observed.

Shmuel Alef 20:28 In-Context

26 Nevertheless Sha’ul spoke not anything that day; for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not tahor; surely he is not tahor.

27 And it came to pass on the day after Rosh Chodesh, which was the second day of the month, that Dovid’s makom was empty; and Sha’ul said unto Yonatan bno, Wherefore cometh not Ben Yishai to halechem neither yesterday, nor today?

28 And Yonatan answered Sha’ul, Dovid earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beit-Lechem;

29 And he said, Let me go, now; for we have mishpakhat zevach in the Ir; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there; and now, if I have found chen in thine eyes, let me get away, now, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the Shulchan HaMelech.

30 Then af Sha’ul (anger of Sha’ul) was kindled against Yonatan, and he said unto him, Thou ben of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I have da’as that thou hast chosen Ben Yishai to thine own shame, and unto the shame of ervat immecha (thy mother’s nakedness)?