1 Samuel 20:3

_AND HE SAID UNTO HIM GOD FORBID; THOU SHALT NOT DIE: BEHOLD MY FATHER WILL DO NOTHING EITHER GREAT OR_ _ AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, GOD FORBID; THOU SHALT NOT DIE: BEHOLD, MY FATHER WILL DO NOTHING EITHER GREAT OR SMALL, BUT THAT HE WILL SHEW IT ME: AND WHY SHOULD MY FATHER HIDE THIS THING FROM ME? IT IS NOT SO._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-10 The trials David met with, prepared him for future advancement. Thus the Lord deals with those whom he prepares unto glory. He does not put them into immediate possession of the kingdom, but leads them to it through much tribulation, which he makes the means of fitting them for it. Let them not murmur at his gracious appointment, nor distrust his care; but let them look forward with joyful expectation to the crown which is laid up for them. Sometimes it appears to us that there is but a step between us and death; at all times it may be so, and we should prepare for the event. But though dangers appear most threatening, we cannot die till the purpose of God concerning us is accomplished; nor till we have served our generation according to his will, if we are believers. Jonathan generously offers David his services. This is true friendship. Thus Christ testifies his love to us, Ask,...

Verse 1 Samuel 20:3. _THERE IS BUT A STEP BETWEEN ME AND DEATH._] My life is in the most imminent danger. Your father has, most assuredly, determined to destroy me. The same figure used here, _there is but a step between me and_ _death_, may be found in _Juvenal_, who, satirizing those who risk their lives for the sake of gain in perilous voyages, speaks thus: - _I nune et ventis animam committe, dolato_ _Confisus ligno_, digitis _a morte remotus_ Quatuor _aut_ septem, _si sit latissima teda._ SAT. xii., ver. 57. "Go now, and commit thy life to the winds, trusting to a hewn plank, _four_ or _seven_ fingers thick, i

AND DAVID SWARE MOREOVER - Rather, “yet again.” He met Jonathan’s denial by repeating his statement and confirming it with an oath....

JONATHAN ENDEAVOURS TO RECONCILE SAUL TO DAVID (1 Samuel 20:1.). EXPOSITION JONATHAN'S COVENANT WITH DAVID RENEWED (1 Samuel 20:1). 1 SAMUEL 20:1 DAVID FLED FROM NAIOTH. While Saul was under the influence of the prophetic enthusiasm David escaped; but it is evident that this visit to Samuel, and the extraordinary occurrences which attended it, were not without, a good influence for the time upon Saul's mind. Some sort of reconciliation must have been p

AND DAVID SWARE MOREOVER, AND SAID,.... To assure Jonathan of the truth of it, that he did most certainly seek after his life, of which, as he had no doubt himself, by an oath he endeavoured to remove any that might be in Jonathan, who was not willing to believe his father could be guilty of so foul a crime: THY FATHER CERTAINLY KNOWETH THAT I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THINE EYES: that he was high in his favour, that he had a great value for him, and he had a large share in his love and friendship, and that was the reason why he hid from him his base intentions: AND HE SAITH, LET NOT JONATHAN KNOW THIS, LEST HE BE GRIEVED; as he would be, both for the evil his father would be guilty of, and the danger David, his beloved friend, would be in: BUT TRULY, [AS] THE LORD LIVETH, AND [AS] THY SOUL LIVETH, [THERE IS] BUT A STEP BETWEEN ME AND DEATH; as appeared by his casting a javelin at him,...

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

THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. THY SOUL. thou. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13. STEP. stride. Hebrew. _pesa `. O_ cc. only here....

_And David sware moreover_ Added an oath to the assertion in 1 Samuel 20:1. The Sept. however reads simply, "And David answered Jonathan and said." _Thy father certainly knoweth_, &c. Jonathan's confidence that Saul would tell him all beforehand clearly implies that be supposed his father to be ignorant of the close friendship between him and David. David undeceives him on this point. _there is but a step_, &c. He stands, as it were, upon the very brink of a precipice....