1 Samuel 20:25

_AND THE KING SAT UPON HIS SEAT, AS AT OTHER TIMES, EVEN UPON A SEAT BY THE WALL: AND JONATHAN AROSE, AND ABNER SAT BY SAUL'S SIDE, AND DAVID'S PLACE WAS EMPTY._ The king sat upon his seat, as at other times ... by the wall. The left-hand grainer at the at the upper end of a room was, and still is, in the East, the most honourable place. The person seated there has his left arm confined by the wall, but his right hand is at full liberty. From Abner's position next the king, and David's seat being left empty, it would seem that a state etiquette was observed at the royal table, each of the courtiers and ministers having places assigned them according to their respective gradations of rank. Jonathan, as prince, had of course the highest seat; Abner was captain of the host, or commander-in-chief; and David was successively armour-bearer to the king (1 Samuel 16:21;...

24-34 None were more constant than David in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent, but self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In great peril present opportunities for Divine ordinances may be waved. But it is bad for us, except in case of necessity, to omit any opportunity of statedly attending on them. Jonathan did wisely and well for himself and family, to secure an interest in David, yet for this he is blamed. It is good to take God's people for our people. It will prove to our advantage at last, however it may now be thought against our interest. Saul was outrageous. What savage beasts, and worse, does anger make men!...

Verse 1 Samuel 20:25. _THE KING SAT UPON HIS SEAT_] It seems that there was one table for Saul, Jonathan, David, and Abner; Saul having the chief seat, that _next to the wall_. As only _four_ sat at this table, the absence of any one would soon be noticed....

EXPOSITION OPEN HATRED OF SAUL AGAINST DAVID (1 Samuel 20:24-9). 1 SAMUEL 20:24-9 THE KING SAT HIM DOWN TO EAT MEAT. Hebrew, "the king sat down at the bread to eat." On sitting at table see 1 Samuel 16:11. AND JONATHAN AROSE. When the king had taken his usual place, that of honour, next the wall, and therefore farthest from the door, Jonathan arose and took his place on one side of the king, while Abner sat on the other. David's place below them was left empty. The omission of the statement that Jonathan _sat down _makes

AND THE KING SAT UPON HIS SEAT AS AT OTHER TIMES,.... Upon the seat he usually sat on: [EVEN] UPON A SEAT BY THE WALL; on a couch by the side of the wall; or, as Jarchi and R. Isaiah say, at the head of the couch by the wall, which was the most honourable place; and Kimchi observes, it was the custom in those days to eat meat sitting on beds or couches, see 1 Samuel 28:23; AND JONATHAN AROSE; either in reverence to his father, when he came in and took his seat, or in respect to Abner upon his coming in, being the son of Saul's uncle, and general of the army; for though he arose, he did not depart, it is plain he sat down again, 1 Samuel 20:34. Kimchi thinks, that after Jonathan had sat down at the side of his father, he arose and placed Abner there,

5. JONATHAN PROTECTS DAVID AND THEIR SEPARATION CHAPTER 20 _ 1. David with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:1)_ 2. The strengthened bonds and the token (1 Samuel 20:11) 3. Saul's attempt to kill Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:24) 4. David separated from Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:35) We do not need to enlarge upon this beautiful story of the further devotion of Jonathan to David. What friendship and affection is here! Indeed the chapter contains one of the most charming incidents in this book. When David told Jonathan of his great danger, Jonathan refused to believe it. But David knew there was but

1 SAMUEL 20. DAVID AND JONATHAN (J). 1 Samuel 20 has no obvious connexion with any of the preceding or following sections: And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, is an editorial insertion to connect this section with the preceding after the events narrated in 1 Samuel 19:1, Jonathan could hardly assure David that Saul would not kill him, and that he was privy to all his father's plans. Similarly the literal translation of 1 Samuel 21:1 is And David came, etc. 1 Samuel 20 is probably an extract from an early document, but the editor has omitted its context and supplied the gaps from other sources. 1 SAMUEL 20:1. David tells Jonathan that he is convinced that Saul seeks his life. They arrange t

This section is the _Haphtarah_for the New Moon when it falls on the first day of the week....

AND THE KING SAT UPON HIS SEAT— The Hebrews, as well as the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks, and the first people of Italy, sat at table. See Genesis 37:25; Genesis 43:33.Proverbs 23:1. It appears however, that, after Saul's time, they began to eat seated upon beds at low tables. Since that epocha, we find divers examples of it in Scripture: though other instances give room to think that the women often continued to be seated upon seats. Saul sat against the wall, which was the place of honour, at a table made in the form of a C, which was to be placed so that the convexity of the circle was next to the wall, and the concavity opposite to the door for the convenience of serving. _And Jonathan arose:_ Houbigant reads,

_Saul's Attack on Jonathan and David._ 1 Samuel 20:24-34 24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, _even_ upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he _is_ not clean; surely he _is_ not clean. 27 And it came to pass on the morrow, _which was_ the second _day_ of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor today? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked _leave_ of me _to go_ to Beth-lehem: 29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for