1 Samuel 20:28

_AND JONATHAN ANSWERED SAUL, DAVID EARNESTLY ASKED LEAVE OF ME TO GO TO BETHLEHEM:_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

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!...

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 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....

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....

_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

THE FRIENDSHIP OF DAVID AND JONATHAN 4. Thy soul] a pathetic periphrasis for 'thou.'...

ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 20 JONATHAN HELPS DAVID V1 Then David ran away from Naioth at Ramah. He went to Jonathan and asked him, ‘What have I done? What is my crime? What have I done wrong to your father? Why is he trying to kill me?’ V2 Jonathan replied, ‘No. You will not die. My father tells me everything that he does, even the little things. So he would not hide this from me. This can not be true’. V3 But David answered, ‘Your father knows that you like me. He decided not to tell you. He knew that you would be very unhappy. I promise that I have told you the truth