1 Samuel 20:41

_AND AS SOON AS THE LAD WAS GONE, DAVID AROSE OUT OF A PLACE TOWARD THE SOUTH, AND FELL ON HIS FACE TO THE GROUND, AND BOWED HIMSELF THREE TIMES: AND THEY KISSED ONE ANOTHER, AND WEPT ONE WITH ANOTHER, UNTIL DAVID EXCEEDED._ David ... fell on his face ... and bowed himself three times - a token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the purest brotherly affection....

35-42 The separation of two such faithful friends was grievous to both, but David's case was the more deplorable, for David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary. Christians need not sorrow, as men without hope; but being one with Christ, they are one with each other, and will meet in his presence ere long, to part no more; to meet where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes....

Verse 1 Samuel 20:41. _UNTIL DAVID EXCEEDED._] David's distress must, in the nature of things, be the _greatest_. Besides his friend Jonathan, whom he was now about to lose for ever, he lost his wife, relatives, country; and, what was most afflictive, the altars of his God, and the ordinances of religion. Saul saw David's growing popularity, and was convinced of his own maladministration. He did not humble himself before God, and therefore became a prey to envy, pride, jealousy, cruelty, and every other malevolent temper. From him David had every thing to fear, and therefore he thought it was safer to yield to the storm, than attempt to brave it; though he could have even raised a very powerful party in Israel, had he used the means which were so much in his power. But as he neither sought not affected the kingdom, he left it to the providence of God to bring h

A PLACE TOWARD THE SOUTH - An unintelligible description; one expects a repetition of the description of David’s hiding-place in 1 Samuel 20:19. The Septuagint in both places has “argab,” a word meaning a “heap of stones.” If this be the true reading, David’s hiding-place was either a natural cavernous rock which was called “Argab,” or some ruin of an ancient building, equally suited for a hiding-place. BOWED HIMSELF THREE TIMES - In token, doubtless, of his unshaken loyalty to Jonathan as the son of his king, as well as his friend; and in acknowledgment of Jonathan’s power to kill him if he saw fit. (Compare Genesis 33:3). DAVID EXCEEDED - His affection for Jonathan, coupled with his sense

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] AS SOON AS THE LAD WAS GONE,.... Which David could observe from his lurking place: DAVID AROSE OUT OF [A PLACE] TOWARD THE SOUTH; to the south of the field in which he was hid, or to the south of the stone Ezel, near which he was; and so the Targum, "and David arose from the side of the stone Atha, which was towards the south;'' Jonathan shooting his arrows to the north of it, lest the lad should have discovered David when he ran for them: and fell on his face to the ground; in reverence of Jonathan, as the son of a king, and in respect to him as his friend, who had so faithfully served him, and was so concerned to save his life: AND BOWED HIMSELF THREE TIMES: this was before he fell prostrate on the ground. Abarbinel observes, that bowing three; times was fit and proper to be done to a king; once at the place from whence they first see him, the second time in the middle of the...

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

OUT OF. PLACE TOWARD THE SOUTH. Sept, reads "from beside the mound": i, e. Ezel, in 1 Samuel 20:19....

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