While Saul was under the constraining influence of the spirit of prophecy, David escaped from Naioth, and, probably by Samuel’s advice, returned to Saul’s court to commune with Jonathan. Nothing could be a better evidence of his innocence than thus putting himself in Jonathan’s power. Perhaps someth... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT SO - Jonathan’s unwillingness to believe evil of his father is one of the many admirable traits in his character.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID SWARE MOREOVER - Rather, “yet again.” He met Jonathan’s denial by repeating his statement and confirming it with an oath.... [ Continue Reading ]
The new moon, or beginning of each month, was celebrated with especial sacrifices and blowing of trumpets (marginal references.) The feast was kept with great solemnity as “a day of gladness,” and we may presume that the “peace offerings” offered on the occasion furnished the tables of those that of... [ Continue Reading ]
The general meaning is: Jonathan had a presentiment, doubtless from God, that David would be established upon the throne. By God’s mercy he had the comfort, which he well deserved, of knowing that his own posterity would receive kindness at David’s hand (see the marginal references).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STONE EZEL - It is not mentioned elsewhere, except possibly in 1 Samuel 20:41, where see the note.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS NOT CLEAN - The new moon being a religious feast, and the meat to be eaten being peace-offerings, no one could assist at the feast who had any ceremonial uncleanness upon him (marginal references).... [ Continue Reading ]
The greatest insult and most stinging reproach that can be cast upon an Oriental is to reproach his parents or ancestors (see Job 30:8). Saul means to intimate that Jonathan was stubborn from his mother’s womb.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 cavern... [ Continue Reading ]
JONATHAN WENT INTO THE CITY - From which one may infer, what the after history also indicates, that Jonathan’s filial duty and patriotism prevented a complete rupture with his father. Jonathan’s conduct in this, as in everything, was most admirable.... [ Continue Reading ]