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Joseph Benson’s Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 20:21-23

I will send a lad, &c. I will send him before I shoot, to find and take up the arrows which I shall shoot: and I shall shoot them either short of him or beyond him, as I shall see occasion. If I say, Behold the arrows are beyond thee This signal seems to have been agreed on between them, in case Jonathan was so watched and followed, as not to have an opportunity of communing with David by word of mouth. The Lord be between thee and me As a witness and a judge, and between our families for ever, if on either side this league of friendship be violated.

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See also 1 Samuel 20:21-23 in other biblical comments:

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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 ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    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 thi...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    David and Jonathan renew their covenant 11. _into the field_ To escape observation they leave the city, in which the conversation has been held hitherto....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND BEHOLD, I WILL SEND A LAD, &C.— _Moreover, I will send a lad, commanding him to go, and find out the arrows. If, therefore, I shall say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee; tak...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Jonathan's Plan: 1 Samuel 20:11-23 11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God o...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND I WILL SHOOT THREE ARROWS ON THE SIDE THEREOF, AS THOUGH I SHOT AT A MARK._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

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

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    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? W...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ הִנֵּה֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֶת ־הַ נַּ֔עַר לֵ֖ךְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXVII. _ DAVID AND JONATHAN._ 1 Samuel 20:1. WE have no means of determining how long time elapsed between the events recorded in the preceding chapter and those recorded in this. It is not...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A FRIEND AT COURT 1 Samuel 20:17 Jonathan most have been strongly tempted to ally himself with his friend, that they might face the world together; but he clung loyally to his father's fortunes, thou...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    David returned to Jonathan, and there follows an interesting and beautiful account of a time in which these two friends took counsel together about David's peril. Every incident of the story is full...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (18) Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. (19) And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and co...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Now that we have heard the prophet's judgment of king Saul, there follows next the choice of Jehovah. The chapter gives us in a very striking manner the manifest sentence of death on all the thoughts...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    David is now driven away from the presence of Saul, and becomes a wanderer in the earth. It is no longer entire submission to Saul, whilst himself the vessel of the energy of God. Driven away by Saul,...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND, BEHOLD, I WILL SEND A LAD,.... That attended on him, and carried his bow and arrows, and fetched his arrows when he had shot them: [SAYING], GO, FIND OUT THE ARROWS; where they are fallen, and r...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying], Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows [are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for [there is] peace to th...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Dauid consulteth with Ionathan for his safetie. 11 Ionathan and Dauid renew their couenant by oath. 18 Ionathans token to Dauid. 24 Saul missing Dauid, seeketh to kill Ionathan. 35 Ionathan loui...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    CONFERENCE BETWEEN DAVID AND JONATHAN...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go find out, fetch, THE ARROWS. IF I EXPRESSLY SAY UNTO THE LAD, BEHOLD, THE ARROWS ARE ON THIS SIDE OF THEE, TAKE THEM; THEN COME THOU; FOR THERE IS PEACE TO T...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    David however was fearful of the very presence of Saul at Naioth. He left there and returned back to find Jonathan, apparently hoping to find some possibility of help in Jonathan's further interceding...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    NO HURT: _ Heb._ not any thing...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    11-23 Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God fav...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I will send him out before I shoot, to find out and take up the arrows which I shall shoot. And I shall shoot them either short of him, or beyond him, as I shall see occasion....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 20:21 send H7971 (H8799) lad H5288 Go H3212 (H8798) find H4672 (H8798) arrows H2671 expressly...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JONATHAN EXPLAINS HIS PLAN FOR LETTING DAVID KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS, AND RENEWS THEIR FIRM COVENANT (1 SAMUEL 20:10 A). In response to David's request Jonathan now outlined his plan for keeping Da...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jonathan protects David. Their parting. CHARACTERS: God, David, Jonathan, Saul. CONCLUSION: Though the believer be despised of many, compelled to leave all comforts and part with best frie...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 20:5. _The new moon,_ a day of feasting and trumpets, accompanied with the exercises of devotion. Numbers 10:16. 1 Samuel 20:6. _Run to Bethlehem._ It was not very far from Saul's residence,...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And David fled from Naioth, in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan._ DAVID AND JONATHAN 1. It will be suitable for us to dwell on the remarkable friendship between David and Jonathan--a beauti...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And I will shoot three arrows._ THE CLAIMS OF FRIENDSHIP I. The arrows taught that a strong and noble friend was standing in the breach. 1. Never be ashamed to own a friend. Do not count him your...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 20:1. “AND DAVID FLED,” while Saul was still under the power of the prophetic influence. “Nothing could be a better evidence of his innocence than his thus putt...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    JONATHAN ENDEAVOURS TO RECONCILE SAUL TO DAVID (1 Samuel 20:1.). EXPOSITION JONATHAN'S COVENANT WITH DAVID RENEWED ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now David fled from Naioth in Ramah, he came to Jonathan, he said, What have I done? what is my iniquity? what is my sin that your father is seeking my life? And Jonathan said to him, God forbid; thou...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Amos 8:14; Jeremiah 12:16; Jeremiah 4:2; Jeremiah 5:2...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    I will send — I will send him out before I shoot, to find out, and take up the arrows which I shall shoot. And I shall shoot them either short of him, or beyond him, as I shall see occasion....

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