1 Samuel 20:31

_FOR AS LONG AS THE SON OF JESSE LIVETH UPON THE GROUND, THOU SHALT NOT BE ESTABLISHED, NOR THY KINGDOM. WHEREFORE NOW SEND AND FETCH HIM UNTO ME, FOR HE SHALL SURELY DIE._ 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

FOR AS LONG AS THE SON OF JESSE LIVETH UPON THE GROUND, THOU SHALT NOT BE ESTABLISHED, NOR THY KINGDOM,.... He would not, though heir to the crown, be sure of it; it would be precarious to him, he would be in great danger of being deprived of it on the death of his father; and therefore it would be his highest wisdom to deliver David up to be slain, as it was his greatest folly to protect him, and provide for his satiety: WHEREFORE NOW SEND AND FETCH HIM UNTO ME; send to Bethlehem for him to come to court directly: FOR HE SHALL SURELY DIE; or he is "the son of death" g; guilty of death, as the Targum, deserves to die, and Saul was determined upon his death if possible. g בן מות "filius mortis", V. L. Montanus, Vatablus, Piscator; "reus mortis", Junius Tremellius....

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

SHALL SURELY DIE. the son of death: i.e. doomed to die....

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

AS LONG AS THE SON OF JESSE LIVETH, &C.— But how did Saul know, that, as long as the son of Jesse lived, Jonathan _should not be established, nor his kingdom?_ If it was all jealousy and surmise, his ordering him to be brought to be put to death was unreasonable and wicked, and can be justified upon no principles of justice and humanity. If Saul knew that as himself was rejected, David was really anointed to succeed him by Samuel, at God's command, his ordering him to be put to death was both impertinent and wicked: for he knew that David had then as good a right to succeed him, in preference to Jonathan, as he himself had of obtaining the throne in preference to every other man of Israel; and, therefore, that he ought not to destroy the man whom God had appointed to succeed him, and with all his endeavours would not be able to do it if God had determined to make him captain over Israel....

_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