I
S A M U E L
CHAP. XX.
David,
having several times narrowly escaped Saul's fury, begins to consider at last
whether it may not be necessary for him to retire into the country and to take
up arms in his own defence. But he will not do so daring a thing without
consulting his faithful friend Jonathan; how he did this, and what passed
between them, we have an account in this chapter, where we have as surprising
instances of supernatural love as we had in the chapter before of unnatural
hatred. I. David complains to Jonathan of his present distress, and engages
him to be his friend, ver. 1-8. II. Jonathan faithfully promises to get and
give him intelligence how his father stood affected to him, and renews the
covenant of friendship with him, ver. 9-23. III. Jonathan, upon trial, finds,
to his grief, that his father was implacably enraged against David, ver.
24-34. IV. He gives David notice of this, according to the appointment between
them, ver. 35-42.
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David
Consults Jonathan.
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B.
C. 1058.
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1 And David fled from
Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is
mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my
life? 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die:
behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew
it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
3 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, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me
and death. 4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul
desireth, I will even do it for thee. 5 And David said unto
Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to
sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field
unto the third day at even. 6 If thy father at all miss me,
then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to
Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the
family. 7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall
have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is
determined by him. 8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy
servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD
with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for
why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
Here, I. David makes a representation to Jonathan of his present troubles.
While Saul lay bound by his trance at Naioth David escaped to the court, and
got to speak with Jonathan. And it was happy for him that he had such a friend
at court, when he had such an enemy on the throne. If there be those that hate
and despise us, let us not be disturbed at that, for there are those also that
love and respect us. God hath set the one over against the other, and so must
we. Jonathan was a friend that loved at all times, loved David as well now in
his distress, and bade him as welcome into his arms, as he had done when he
was in his triumph (ch. xviii. 1), and he was a brother that was
born for adversity, Prov. xvii. 17. Now, 1. David appeals to Jonathan
himself concerning his innocency, and he needed not say much to him for the
proof of it, only he desired him that if he knew of any just offence he had
given his father he would tell him, that he might humble himself and beg his
pardon: What have I done? v. 1. 2. He endeavours to convince him
that, notwithstanding his innocency, Saul sought his life. Jonathan, from a
principal of filial respect to his father, was very loth to believe that he
designed or would ever do so wicked a thing, v. 2. He the rather hoped
so because he knew nothing of any such design, and he had usually been made
privy to all his counsels. Jonathan, as became a dutiful son, endeavoured to
cover his father's shame, as far as was consistent with justice and fidelity
to David. Charity is not forward to think evil of any, especially of a parent,
1 Cor. xiii. 5. David therefore gives him the assurance of an oath concerning
his own danger, swears the peace upon Saul, that he was in fear of his life by
him: "As the Lord liveth, than which nothing more sure in itself,
and as thy soul liveth, than which nothing more certain to thee,
whatever thou thinkest, there is but a step between me and death,"
v. 3. And, as for Saul's concealing it from Jonathan, it was easy to
account for that; he knew the friendship between him and David, and therefore,
though in other things he advised with him, yet not in that. None more fit
than Jonathan to serve him in every design that was just and honourable, but
he knew him to be a man of more virtue than to be his confidant in so base a
design as the murder of David.
II. Jonathan generously offers him his service (v. 4): Whatsoever
thou desirest, he needed not insert the proviso of lawful and honest (for
he knew David too well to think he would ask any thing that was otherwise), I
will even do it for thee. This is true friendship. Thus Christ testifies
his love to us: Ask, and it shall be done for you; and we must testify
ours to him by keeping his commandments.
III. David only desires him to satisfy himself, and then to satisfy him
whether Saul did really design his death or no. Perhaps David proposed this
more for Jonathan's conviction than his own, for he himself was well
satisfied. 1. The method of trial he proposed was very natural, and would
certainly discover how Saul stood affected to him. The two next days Saul was
to dine publicly, upon occasion of the solemnities of the new moon, when
extraordinary sacrifices were offered and feasts made upon the sacrifices.
Saul was rejected of God, and the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him,
yet he kept up his observance of the holy feasts. There may be the remains of
external devotion where there is nothing but the ruins of real virtue. At
these solemn feasts Saul had either all his children to sit with him, and
David had a seat as one of them, or all his great officers, and David had a
seat as one of them. However it was, David resolved his seat should be
empty (and that it never used to be at a sacred feast) those two days (v.
5), and he would abscond till the solemnity was over, and put it upon this
issue: if Saul admitted an excuse for his absence, and dispensed with it, he
would conclude he had changed his mind and was reconciled to him; but if he
resented it, and was put into a passion by it, it was easy to conclude he
designed him a mischief, since it was certain he did not love him so well as
to desire his presence for any other end than that he might have an
opportunity to do him a mischief, v. 7. 2. The excuse he desired
Jonathan to make for his absence, we have reason to think, was true, that he
was invited by his elder brother to Bethlehem, his own city, to celebrate this
new moon with his relations there, because, besides the monthly solemnity in
which they held communion with all Israel, they had now a yearly sacrifice,
and a holy feast upon it, for all the family, v. 6. They kept a
day of thanksgiving in their family for the comforts they enjoyed, and of
prayer for the continuance of them. By this it appears that the family David
was of was a very religious family, a house that had a church in it. 3. The
arguments he used with Jonathan to persuade him to do this kindness for him
were very pressing, v. 8. (1.) That he had entered into a league of
friendship with him, and it was Jonathan's own proposal: Thou hast brought
thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee. (2.) That he would by
no means urge him to espouse his cause if he was not sure that it was a
righteous cause: "If there be iniquity in me, I am so far from
desiring or expecting that the covenant between us should bind thee to be a
confederate with me in that iniquity that I freely release thee from it, and
wish that my hand may be first upon me: Slay me thyself." No
honest man will urge his friend to do a dishonest thing for his sake.
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Jonathan's
Covenant with David.
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B.
C. 1058.
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9 And Jonathan said, Far
be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my
father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? 10 Then
said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer
thee roughly? 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 of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or
the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I
then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; 13 The LORD
do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee
evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in
peace: and the LORD
be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And thou shalt
not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD,
that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy
kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD
hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying,
Let the LORD
even require it at the hand of David's enemies. 17 And
Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him
as he loved his own soul. 18 Then Jonathan said to David, To
morrow 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 come to the place where thou didst hide
thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone
Ezel. 20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof,
as though I shot at a mark. 21 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
thee, and no hurt; as the LORD
liveth. 22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the
arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD
hath sent thee away. 23 And as touching the matter which
thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD
be between thee and me for ever.
Here, I. Jonathan protests his fidelity to David in his distress.
Notwithstanding the strong confidence David had in Jonathan, yet, because he
might have some reason to fear that his father's influence, and his own
interest, should make him warp, or grow cool towards him, Jonathan thought it
requisite solemnly to renew the professions of his friendship to him (v.
9): "Far be it from thee to think that I suspect thee of any crime
for which I should either slay thee myself or deliver thee to my father; no,
if thou hast any jealousy of that, Come let us go into the field (v.
11), and talk it over more fully." He did not challenge him to the field
to fight him for an affront, but to fix him in his friendship. He faithfully
promised him that he would let him know how, upon trial, he found his father
affected towards him, and would make the matter neither better nor worse than
it was. "If there be good towards thee, I will show it thee,
that thou mayest be easy (v. 12), if evil, I will send thee away,
that thou mayest be safe" (v. 13); and thus he would help to
deliver him from the evil if it were real and from the fear of evil if it were
but imaginary. For the confirmation of his promise he appeals to God, 1. As a
witness (v. 12): "O Lord God of Israel, thou knowest I mean
sincerely, and think as I speak." The strength of his passion made the
manner of his speaking concise and abrupt. 2. As a judge: "The Lord do
so and much more to Jonathan (v. 13), if I speak deceitfully, or
break my word with my friend." He expressed himself thus solemnly that
David might be abundantly assured of his sincerity. And thus God has confirmed
his promises to us, that we might have strong consolation, Heb. vi. 17,
18. Jonathan adds to his protestations his hearty prayers: "The Lord
be with thee, to protect and prosper thee, as he has been formerly with
my father, though now he has withdrawn." Thus he imitates his belief
that David would be in his father's place, and his good wishes that he might
prosper in it better than his father now did.
II. He provides for the entail of the covenant of friendship with David upon
his posterity, v. 14-16. He engages David to be a friend to his family
when he was gone (v. 15): Thou shalt promise that thou wilt not
cut off thy kindness from my house for ever. This he spoke from a natural
affection he had to his children, whom he desired it might go well with after
his decease, and for whose future welfare he desired to improve his present
interest. It also intimates his firm belief of David's advancement, and that
it would be in the power of his hand to do a kindness or unkindness to his
seed; for, in process of time, the Lord would cut off his enemies, Saul
himself was not expected; then "Do not thou cut off thy kindness from
my house, nor revenge my father's wrongs upon my children." The house
of David must likewise be bound to the house of Jonathan from generation to
generation; he made a covenant (v. 16) with the house of
David. Note, True friends cannot but covet to transmit to theirs after
them their mutual affections. Thy own friend, and thy father's friend,
forsake not. This kindness, 1. He calls the kindness of the Lord,
because it is such kindness as God shows to those he takes into covenant with
himself; for he is a God to them and to their seed; they are beloved for
the fathers' sakes. 2. He secures it by an imprecation (v. 16): The
Lord require it at the hand of David's seed (for of David himself he had
no suspicion) if they prove so far David's enemies as to deal wrongfully with
the posterity of Jonathan, David's friend. He feared lest David, or some of
his, should hereafter be tempted, for the clearing and confirming of their
title to the throne, to do by his seed as Abimelech had done by the sons of
Gideon (Judg. ix. 5), and this he would effectually prevent; but the reason
given (v. 17) why Jonathan was so earnest to have the friendship
entailed is purely generous, and has nothing of self in it; it was because he
loved him as he loved his own soul, and therefore desired that he and his
might be beloved by him. David, though now in disgrace at court and in
distress, was as amiable in the eyes of Jonathan as ever he had been, and he
loved him never the less for his father's hating him, so pure were the
principles on which his friendship was built. Having himself sworn to David,
he caused David to swear to him, and (as we read it) to swear again,
which David consented to (for he that bears an honest mind does not startle at
assurances), to swear by his love to him, which he looked upon as a sacred
thing. Jonathan's heart was so much upon it that, when they parted this time,
he concluded with a solemn appeal to God: The Lord be between me and thee
for ever (v. 23), that is, "God himself be judge between us
and our families for ever, if on either side this league of friendship be
violated." It was in remembrance of this covenant that David was kind to
Mephibosheth, 2 Sam. ix. 7; xxi. 7. It will be a kindness to ourselves and
ours to secure an interest in those whom God favours and to make his friends
ours.
III. He settles the method of intelligence, and by what signs and tokens he
would give him notice how his father stood affected towards him. David would
be missed the first day, or at least the second day, of the new moon, and
would be enquired after, v. 18. On the third day, by which time he
would have returned from Bethlehem, he must be at such a place (v. 19),
and Jonathan would come towards that place with his bow and arrows to shoot
for diversion (v. 20), would send his lad to fetch his arrows, and, if
they were shot short of the lad, David must take it for a signal of safety,
and not be afraid to show his head (v. 21); but, if he shot beyond the
lad, it was a signal of danger, and he must shift for his safety, v.
22. This expedient he fixed lest he should not have the opportunity, which yet
it proved he had, of talking with David, and making the report by word of
mouth.
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Jonathan
Excuses David to Saul.
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B.
C. 1058.
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24 So David hid himself
in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat
meat. 25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even
upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and
David's place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing
that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean;
surely he is not clean. 27 And it came to pass on the
morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's
place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the
son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? 28 And
Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go
to Bethlehem: 29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our
family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to
be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away,
I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's
table. 30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he
said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know
that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the
confusion of thy mother's nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of
Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.
Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall
he be slain? what hath he done? 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him
to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to
slay David. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger,
and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David,
because his father had done him shame.
Jonathan is here effectually convinced of that which he was so loth to
believe, that his father had an implacable enmity to David, and would
certainly be the death of him if it were in his power; and he had like to have
paid very dearly himself for the conviction.
I. David is missed from the feast on the first day, but nothing is said of
him. The king sat upon his seat, to feast upon the peace-offerings as
at other times (v. 25), and yet had his heart as full of envy and
malice against David as it could hold. He should first have been reconciled to
him, and then have come and offered his gift; but, instead of that, he hoped,
at this feast, to drink the blood of David. What an abomination was that
sacrifice which was brought with such a wicked mind as this! Prov. xxi. 27.
When the king came to take his seat Jonathan arose, in reverence to him both
as a father and as his sovereign; every one knew his place, but David's was
empty. It did not use to be so. None more content than he in attending holy
duties; nor had he been absent now but that he must have come at the peril of
his life; self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In imminent peril present
opportunities may be waived, nay, we ought not to throw ourselves into the
mouth of danger. Christ him self absconded often, till he knew that his hour
had come. But that day Saul took no notice that he missed David, but said
within himself, "Surely he is not clean, v. 26. Some
ceremonial pollution has befallen him, which forbids him to eat of the holy
things till he has washed his clothes, and bathed his flesh in water, and
been unclean until the evening." Saul knew what conscience David made
of the law, and that he would rather keep away from the holy feast than come
in his uncleanness. Blessed be God, no uncleanness is now a restraint upon us,
but what we may by faith and repentance be washed from in the fountain opened,
Ps. xxvi. 6.
II. He is enquired for the second day, v. 27. Saul asked Jonathan, who
he knew was his confidant, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat?
He was his own son by marriage, but he calls him in disdain, the son of
Jesse. He asks for him as if he were not pleased that he should be absent
from a religious feast; and so it should be example to masters of families to
see to it that those under their charge be not absent from the worship of God,
either in public or in the family. It is a bad thing for us, except in case of
necessity, to omit an opportunity of statedly attending on God in solemn
ordinances. Thomas lost a sight of Christ by being once absent from a meeting
of the disciples. But that which displeased Saul was that hereby he missed the
opportunity he expected of doing David a mischief.
III. Jonathan makes his excuse, v. 28, 29. 1. That he was absent upon a
good occasion, keeping the feast in another place, though not here, sent for
by his elder brother, who was now more respectful to him than he had been (ch.
xvii. 28), and that he had gone to pay his respects to his relations, for the
keeping up of brotherly love; and no master would deny a servant liberty to do
that in due time. He pleads, 2. That he did not go without leave humbly asked
and obtained from Jonathan, who, as his superior officer, was proper to be
applied to for it. Thus he represents David as not wanting in any instance of
respect and duty to the government.
IV. Saul hereupon breaks out into a most extravagant passion, and rages like a
lion disappointed of his prey. David was out of his reach, but he falls upon
Jonathan for his sake (v. 30, 31), gives him base language, not fit for
a gentleman, a prince, to give to any man, especially his own son, heir
apparent to his crown, a son that served him, the greatest stay and ornament
of his family, before a great deal of company, at a feast, when all should be
in good humour, at a sacred feast, by which all irregular passions should be
mortified and subdued; yet he does in effect call him, 1. A bastard: Thou
son of the perverse rebellious woman; that is, according to the foolish
filthy language of men's brutish passion now a day, "Thou son of a
whore." He tells him he was born to the confusion of his mother,
that is, he had given the world cause to suspect that he was not the
legitimate son of Saul, because he loved him whom Saul hated and supported him
who would be the destruction of their family. 2. A traitor: Thou son of a
perverse rebellion (so the word is), that is, "thou perverse
rebel." At other times he reckoned no counsellor or commander that he had
more trusty and well-beloved than Jonathan; yet now in this passion he
represents him as dangerous to his crown and life. 3. A fool: Thou hast
chosen the son of Jesse for thy friend to thy own confusion, for
while he lives thou shalt never be established. Jonathan indeed did
wisely and well for himself and family to secure an interest in David, whom
Heaven had destined to the throne, yet, for this, he is branded as most
impolitic. It is good taking God's people for our people and going with those
that have him with them. It will prove to our advantage at last, however for
the present it may be thought a disparagement, and a prejudice to our secular
interest. It is probable Saul knew that David was anointed to the kingdom by
the same hand that anointed him, and then not Jonathan, but himself, was the
fool, to think to defeat the counsels of God. Yet nothing will serve him but
David must die, and Jonathan must fetch him to execution. See how ill Saul's
passion looks, and let it warn us against the indulgence of any thing like it
in ourselves. Anger is madness, and he that hates his brother is a
murderer.
V. Jonathan is sorely grieved and put into disorder by his father's barbarous
passion, and the more because he had hoped better things, v. 2. He was
troubled for his father, that he should be such a brute, troubled for his
friend, whom he knew to be a friend of God, that he should be so basely
abused; he was grieved for David (v. 34), and troubled for
himself too, because his father had done him shame, and, though most
unjustly, yet he must submit to it. One would pity Jonathan to see how he was
put, 1. Into the peril of sin. Much ado that wise and good man had to keep his
temper, upon such a provocation as this. His father's reflections upon himself
made no return to; it becomes inferiors to bear with meekness and silence the
contempts put upon them in wrath and passion. When thou art the anvil lie
thou still. But his dooming David to die he could not bear: to that he
replied with some heat (v. 32), Wherefore shall he be slain? What
has he done? Generous spirits can much more easily bear to be abused
themselves than to hear their friends abused. 2. Into the peril of death. Saul
was now so outrageous that he threw his javelin at Jonathan, v. 33. He
seemed to be in great care (v. 31) than Jonathan should be established
in his kingdom, and yet now he himself aims at his life. What fools, what
savage beasts and worse does anger make men! How necessary it is to put a hook
in its nose and a bridle in its jaws! Jonathan was fully satisfied that evil
was determined against David, which put him out of frame exceedingly: he rose
from table, thinking it high time when his life was struck at, and would
eat no meat, for they were not to eat of the holy things in their
mourning. All the guests, we may suppose, were discomposed, and the mirth of
the feast was spoiled. He that is cruel troubles his own flesh, Prov.
xi. 17.
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David
Informed of His Danger.
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B.
C. 1058.
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35 And it came to pass in
the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with
David, and a little lad with him. 36 And he said unto his lad,
Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot
an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the lad was come to the place of
the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is
not the arrow beyond thee? 38 And Jonathan cried after the lad,
Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and
came to his master. 39 But the lad knew not any thing: only
Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his
artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the
city. 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. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go
in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD,
saying, The LORD
be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he
arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
Here is, 1. Jonathan's faithful performance of his promise to give David
notice of the success of his dangerous experiment. He went at the time and to
the place appointed (v. 35), within sight of which he knew David lay
hid, sent his footboy to fetch his arrows, which he would shoot at random (v.
36), and gave David the fatal signal by shooting an arrow beyond the lad (v.
37): Is not the arrow beyond thee? That word [beyond] David knew
the meaning of better than the lad. Jonathan dismissed the lad, who knew
nothing of the matter, and, finding the coast clear and no danger of a
discovery, he presumed upon one minute's personal conversation with David
after he had bidden him flee for his life. 2. The most sorrowful parting of
these two friends, who, for aught that appears, never came together again but
once, and that was by stealth in a wood, ch. xxiii. 16. (1.)
David addressed himself to Jonathan with the reverence of a servant rather
than the freedom of a friend: He fell on his face to the ground, and bowed
himself three times, as one deeply sensible of his obligations to him for
the good services he had done him. (2.) They took leave of each other with the
greatest affection imaginable, with kisses and tears; they wept on each
other's neck till David exceeded, v. 41. 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 were stronger. (3.) They referred
themselves to the covenant of friendship that was between them, both of them
comforting themselves with this in this 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." Thus, while we are at home in the body and absent from the
Lord, this is our comfort, that he has made with us an everlasting
covenant.
Contents
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Next
Section
