Chapter 20

1
fled 1Sam 19:19-24, 1Sam 23:26-28; Ps 124:6-8; 2Pet 2:9

What have 1Sam 12:3, 1Sam 24:11, 1Sam 24:17; Ps 7:3-5, Ps 18:20-24; 2Cor 1:12; 1John 3:21


2
God forbid 1Sam 14:45; Gen 44:7; Josh 22:29, Josh 24:16; Luke 20:16

show it me Heb. uncover mine ear, 1Sam 20:12, 1Sam 9:15 *marg. Ps 40:6; Isa 50:5; John 15:15, John 17:8


3
sware Deut 6:13; Jer 4:2; Heb 6:16

but truly 1Sam 25:26, 1Sam 27:1; 2Sam 15:21; 2Kgs 2:2, 2Kgs 2:4, 2Kgs 2:6

as thy soul 1Sam 1:26, 1Sam 17:55; Jer 38:16

but a step 1Sam 27:1; Deut 28:66; Ps 116:3; 1Cor 15:30-31; 2Cor 1:9-10


4
Whatsoever etc. or, Say what is thy mind, and I will do, etc

desireth Heb. speaketh, or thinketh


5
the new moon The months of the Hebrews were lunar months, and they reckoned from one new moon to another. And, as their feasts, particularly the passover, were reckoned according to this, they were very scrupulous in observing the first appearance of each new moon. On these new moons, they offered sacrifices, and feasted together, but the gathering together of all the families of a tribe on such occasions seems to have taken place only once in the year. 1Sam 20:6; Num 10:10, Num 28:11; 2Kgs 4:23; Ps 81:3; Col 2:16

that I may 1Sam 20:19, 1Sam 19:2; Ps 55:12; Prov 22:3; John 8:59; Acts 17:14


6
Bethlehem 1Sam 17:58; John 7:42

sacrifice or, feast, 1Sam 9:12, 1Sam 16:2-5


7
It is well Deut 1:23; 2Sam 17:4

evil 1Sam 20:9, 1Sam 25:17; Esth 7:7


8
deal kindly Gen 24:49, Gen 47:29; Josh 2:14; Ruth 1:8; Prov 3:3

thou hast 1Sam 20:16, 1Sam 18:3, 1Sam 23:18

if there be Josh 22:22; 2Sam 14:32; Ps 7:4-5; Acts 25:11

why shouldest 1Chr 12:17; Ps 116:11


9
then would 1Sam 20:38, 1Sam 20:42, 1Sam 19:2


10
answer thee 1Sam 20:30-34, 1Sam 25:10, 1Sam 25:14, 1Sam 25:17; Gen 42:7, Gen 42:30; 1Kgs 12:13; Prov 18:23


12
O Lord This verse is evidently deficient. The LXX have Κυριος ο Θεος Ισραηλ οιδεν, "The Lord God of Israel doth know;" the Syraic and Arabic, "The Lord God of Israel is witness;" either of which makes good sense. But two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts supply the word chai, "liveth;" and the text reads thus: "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, when I have sounded my father - if there be good unto David, and I then send not unto thee," etc.; which is a still better sense. Josh 22:22; Job 31:4; Ps 17:3, Ps 139:1-4

sounded Heb. searched, Prov 20:5, Prov 25:2-3

show it thee Heb. uncover thine ear, 1Sam 20:2


13
The Lord do 1Sam 3:17, 1Sam 25:22; Ruth 1:17; 2Sam 3:35, 2Sam 19:13; 1Kgs 19:2, 1Kgs 20:10

the Lord be 1Sam 17:37; Josh 1:5; 1Chr 22:11, 1Chr 22:16; Matt 28:20; Phil 4:9

he hath been with my father 1Sam 10:7, 1Sam 11:6-13, 1Sam 14:47; 2Sam 7:15


14
the kindness 2Sam 9:3; Eph 5:1-2


15
thou shalt 1Sam 24:21; 2Sam 9:1-7, 2Sam 21:7


16
made Heb. cut, 1Sam 18:3; Gen 15:18

Let the Lord 1Sam 25:22, 1Sam 31:2; 2Sam 4:7-8, 2Sam 21:8


17
because he loved him or, by his love toward him

for he loved 1Sam 18:1, 1Sam 18:3; Deut 13:6; 2Sam 1:26; Prov 18:24


18
new moon 1Sam 20:5

and thou shalt Among the forms of salutation and compliment used in Persia, one was, according to my mode of notation in italics, Ja i shama khali bud pish yaran, signifying, Thy place or seat was empty among thy friends. This phrase, or the greater part of it, was frequently addressed to myself when coming into a circle of Persian acquaintances, after an absence of several days or weeks. It reminded me of a passage in the First book of Samuel (1Sam 20:18). And thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And again, David's place was empty." Sir W. Ouseley's Travels, vol i. preface, p.16.

empty Heb. missed


19
quickly or, diligently, Heb. greatly

hide thyself 1Sam 20:5, 1Sam 19:2

when the business Heb. in the day of the business

Ezel or, that sheweth the way.


21
no Heb. not any thing

as the Jer 4:2, Jer 5:2, Jer 12:16; Amos 8:14


23
the matter 1Sam 20:14-15

the Lord 1Sam 20:42; Gen 16:5, Gen 31:50


24
the king Ps 50:16-21; Prov 4:17, Prov 15:17, Prov 17:1, Prov 21:3, Prov 21:27; Isa 1:11-15; Zech 7:6; John 18:28


25
as at other times Judg 16:20


26
he is not clean Lev 7:21, Lev 11:24, Lev 11:27, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:40, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:16-17, Lev 15:19-21; Num 19:16


27
Wherefore 1Sam 18:11, 1Sam 19:9-10, 1Sam 19:15

the son 1Sam 22:7-9, 1Sam 22:13-14, 1Sam 25:10; Isa 11:1-2; Matt 13:55; 1Pet 2:4


28
1Sam 20:6


29
my brother 1Sam 17:28


30
Saul's Job 5:2; Prov 14:29, Prov 19:12, Prov 19:19, Prov 21:24, Prov 25:28, Prov 27:3; Jas 1:19-20

Thou etc. or, Thou perverse rebel, Heb. Son of perverse rebellion, Prov 15:2, Prov 21:24; Matt 5:22; Eph 4:31, Eph 6:4

and unto the This reflection on the mother of Jonathan, by the passionate monarch, reflects more dishonour on himself than on his brave and noble minded son. Mungo Park gives an instance of the prevalence of the same principles in Africa; for he says, "Maternal affection is every where conspicuous among the Africans, and creates a correspondent return of tenderness in the child. 'Strike me,' said my attendant, 'but do not curse my mother.' I found the same sentiment to prevail universally in all parts of Africa." King Saul, unable to villify Jonathan to his own satisfaction by personal reproaches, outstepped the ordinary abuse of his day, and proceeded to that which was designed to produce unusual vexation, and vented the bitterness of his mind by maligning the character of his own wife and Jonathan's mother.


31
send 1Sam 20:8, 1Sam 19:6, 1Sam 19:11-15

shall surely die Heb. is the son of death, 1Sam 26:16; 2Sam 19:28; Ps 79:11 *marg.


32
Wherefore 1Sam 19:5; Prov 24:11-12, Prov 31:8-9; John 7:51

what hath Matt 27:23; Luke 23:22, cast, 1Sam 18:11, 1Sam 19:10-11; Prov 22:24; Eccl 9:3; Jer 17:9, whereby, 1Sam 20:7; Eccl 7:9


34
in fierce Eccl 7:20; Eph 4:26

he was grieved Mark 3:5


35
at the time 1Sam 20:19; 2Sam 20:5


36
Run 1Sam 20:20-21

beyond him Heb. to pass over him, 1Sam 20:21-22


38
Ps 55:6-9; Prov 6:4-5; Matt 24:16-18; Mark 13:14-16; Luke 17:31-32


40
artillery Heb. instruments, Rather weapons, as the word kelim also denotes; and here means the bow, quiver, and arrows. This is probably the only place in our language in which the word artillery is not applied to cannon or ordinance, but simply to weapons of war.

his lad Heb. the lad that was his


41
and fell 1Sam 25:23; Gen 43:28; 2Sam 9:6

and they kissed 1Sam 10:1; Gen 29:11, Gen 29:13, Gen 45:15; 2Sam 19:39; Acts 20:37

David exceeded 1Sam 18:3; 2Sam 1:26


42
Go in peace 1Sam 20:22, 1Sam 1:17; Num 6:26; Luke 7:50; Acts 16:36

forasmuch as or, the Lord be witness of that which, etc. 1Sam 20:23

And he arose 1Sam 23:18; The separation of two such faithful friends was equally grievous to them both, but David's case was the more deplorable. For when Jonathan was returning to his family and friends, David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary, and therefore his grief exceeded Jonathan's; or, perhaps it was because his temper was more tender and his passions stronger. They referred each other to the covenant of friendship that was between them, both of them being comforted thereby in this very mournful separation - "We have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, for ourselves and our heirs, that we and they will be faithful and kind to each other from generation to generation."


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