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Joseph Benson’s Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 20:3

David sware moreover The matter being of great moment, and Jonathan doubting the truth of it, he confirms his word with an oath, which follows in the end of the verse. Only he interposeth a reason why Saul concealed it from Jonathan. Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved What a noble and generous turn does David here give to the behaviour of Saul to Jonathan, lest he should think ill of his father, by insinuating that he had kept this a secret from him out of affection, lest it should give him pain.

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See also 1 Samuel 20:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

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

  • 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...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

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

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _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 conf...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 304 DAVID’S FEAR OF SAUL 1 Samuel 20:3. _Truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death_. IT is justly said, that “oppression maketh a wise man...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    David's Farewell to Jonathan, 1 Samuel 20:1-42. _David's Appeal to Jonathan._ 1 Samuel 20:1-10 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what _is_ min...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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...

  • 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...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THY FATHER CERTAINLY KNOWETH THAT I HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THINE EYES. — David urges that his fall, and even his death, had been decided upon by Saul, who, knowing how Jonathan loved him, would shrink fr...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּשָּׁבַ֨ע עֹ֜וד דָּוִ֗ד וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ יָד

  • 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

    FRIENDSHIP'S COVENANT 1 Samuel 20:1 Life becomes intolerable when suspense is long drawn out; hence David's appeal to his friend. Besides, he yearned for one more glimpse of the dear home at Bethlehe...

  • 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...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD liveth, an...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _As I may say, is not in Hebrew. Septuagint, "the space between me and thy father is filled up, unto death." We can never more have any union, nor dwell together in safety. (Haydock)_...

  • 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 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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD liveth, an...

  • 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

    And David, whose experience with Saul had taught him to estimate the true state of affairs more correctly, SWARE MOREOVER, in addition to what he had said to Jonathan, AND SAID, THY FATHER CERTAINLY K...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    CONFERENCE BETWEEN DAVID AND JONATHAN...

  • 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...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 lea...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    The matter being of great moment, and Jonathan doubting the truth of it, David confirms his word with an oath, which follows in the end of the verse; only he interposeth a reason why Saul concealed it...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 20:3 David H1732 oath H7650 (H8735) said H559 (H8799) father H1 certainly H3045 (H8800) knows...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID SEEKS OUT JONATHAN (1 SAMUEL 20:1). While Saul was rendered incapable of doing anything by the working of God's Spirit on him, David was able to flee from Naioth, and his first action was to tak...

  • 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

    _There is but a step between me and death._ SOLEMN NEWS Notice the views and feelings that will naturally possess a man who believes “there is but a step between him and death,” or that his end is n...

  • 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 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

    1 Corinthians 15:30; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Samuel 17:55;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    David sware — The matter being of great moment, and Jonathan doubting the truth of it, he confirms his word with an oath, which follows in the end of the verse. Only he interposeth a reason why Saul c...

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