1 Samuel 20
Saul’s Anger, David’s Fear, and Jonathan’s Loyalty
In this section, we learn more of the strong character of Jonathan who is finally convinced of his father’s murderous intentions toward David. When faced with the gravity of his precarious position as prince, Jonathan chose to resist the will of his father, to submit to the will of God, and to remain loyal to his covenant with his friend.
The main character in this pericope is Jonathan. His attitude to God’s will contrasts positively with Saul’s attitude. Rather than opposing God’s will and His anointed, as Saul did, Jonathan humbled himself before God’s will and supported the Lord’s anointed, David. Jonathan faced a terrible tension since Saul’s attitude divided Jonathan’s loyalty. He solved this problem by putting God’s will first. He submitted to the domestic authority of his father, and to the civil authority of his king, by obeying Saul, except when obedience to Saul conflicted with obedience to God. - Thomas Constable
A Step Between Me And Death
Vs. 1-2 - David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What did I do wrong? Jonathan said to him, “No, you won’t die.
Apparently Jonathan did not know of the number of attempts that his father had made to kill David. When he saw that David was genuinely fearful, he agreed to cooperate with David in finding out Saul’s real intentions once and for all. - Don Fleming
How was Jonathan so unaware of Saul’s multiple attempts at killing David? Had David not told him about escaping his own house to hide with Samuel?
Vs. 3 - As surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.
We find a very fearful David in this passage. There was a lot of despair in this statement. The gravity of his predicament was settling in as he came to terms with the reality that his whole life may be upended by his fugitive status. His words call to mind the many Psalms David wrote during the years that he fled and feared for his life. God would lead him through many “valleys of the shadow of death” as he fled from Saul and learned to trust and praise “in the presence of his enemies.”
A Covenant of Friendship
Wavering Confidence
Vs. 8 - If I have done anything wrong, then kill me yourself; why take me to your father?
Commentators note that David’s request indicated his desire to plead his integrity, to test his covenant with Jonathan, and possibly, that he had begun to doubt whether he would ever live to be the next king.
Unwavering Loyalty
Vs. 15 - don’t ever withdraw your kindness from my household—not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.
Jonathan was the son of the king, and David was a homeless fugitive. But Jonathan spoke with so much confidence in David’s future and so much uncertainty for his own. No one else in this narrative seems to grasp the scope of the plan of God in the life of David like Jonathan.
Jonathan was aware of the political dynamic between the family of David and the family of Jonathan. In those days when one royal house replaced another it was common for the new royal house to kill all the potential rulers from the old royal house. Jonathan knew that one day David and his descendants would rule over Israel and he wanted a promise that David and his descendants would not kill or mistreat the descendants of Jonathan.
Jonathan agreed to care for David in the face of Saul’s threat and David agreed to care for Jonathan and his family in the future. David fulfilled this promise to Jonathan (2 Samuel 9:1-8 and 21:7). - David Guzik
Vs. 17 - Jonathan once again swore to David in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
Very infrequently in scripture does an author “pull back the curtain” on intimate friendship like the one described in this section. Despite their differences and difficulties, these two men shared a connection and compatibility that led to commitment. From his position as a friend, Jonathan willed the good of David, even when he could see very little for himself.
I Will Shoot Three Arrows
A Feast
Vs. 18 - Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; you’ll be missed because your seat will be empty.
The new moon introduced the new month that the Israelites celebrated with a sacrificial meal. It was both a religious and a civil holiday (Numbers 10:10; Numbers 28:11-15; 2 Kings 4:23). David would normally have been present at the king’s table since he was one of Saul’s high-ranking military commanders. However, David evidently believed that Saul would try to kill him again if he ate with the king. - Thomas Constable
A Promise
Vs. 13 - If my father intends to bring evil on you, may the Lord punish Jonathan and do so severely if I do not tell you and send you away so you may leave safely.
Commentators note that Jonathan probably formed the detailed plan involving the retrieval of arrows because he wasn’t sure that he would have the opportunity to speak with David face to face. The consideration and effort involved in this plot demonstrated a great level of trust in the friendship. There was ample opportunity for betrayal.
An Enraged Father
Your Own Shame
Vs. 30-31 - Then Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you are siding with Jesse’s son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother? Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me—he must die!”
By insulting Jonathan’s mother, Saul was intensifying his insult (1 Samuel 20:30). Today’s English Version translated Saul’s epithet, "You bastard!" The New Jerusalem Bible rendered it, "You son of a rebellious slut!" The note in the NET Bible says, "You stupid son of a bitch!"
Jonathan had chosen David as his friend to his own shame in the sense that because he had made him his friend, rather than killing him, as Saul wanted him to do, David would take Jonathan’s place as the king of Israel. Jonathan would fail to achieve the purpose for which he had been born, in Saul’s way of thinking (1 Samuel 20:31). Saul perceived David as a threat to his continuing dynasty, not just to his personal rule. Clearly Saul was rejecting and opposing God’s will that his reign and his dynasty would not endure.
Jonathan’s ambitions were not the same as Saul’s. He wanted God’s plans to succeed more than he wanted to become Israel’s king. His departure from Saul’s table symbolized his departure from his father’s fellowship. - Thomas Constable
All Doubt Removed
Vs. 33 - Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father was determined to kill David.
Up to this point, Jonathan did not seem fully convinced of his father’s paranoia and murderous intentions. Now, all pretense was dropped, and Saul’s true feelings were on display. God had rejected him; now he was rejecting God.
Though it seems that Jonathan had already understood and accepted God’s will, he was again presented with a huge dilemma. To walk away from his father here was no little matter. And it baffled Saul! Did Jonathan struggle at all with the massive decision to yield his place in the royal dynasty to another man? Did he ever second guess his resolve to relinquish his rights? We are not told how he felt, but we do know how life lived out his covenant with David and commitment to the will of God.
A Tearful Goodbye
Vs. 41-42 - Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more. Jonathan then said to David, “Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of the Lord when we said, ‘The Lord will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city.
One last time, Jonathan reviewed their covenant and David’s promise to protect Jonathan’s posterity when he became king. Perhaps they wept for what they knew was coming and what they knew might never be.
Jonathan knew he might never see David again. In fact, David and Jonathan will only meet once more, shortly before Jonathan’s death. Yet as David now left for a life of hiding and danger, Jonathan could send David away in peace because they both agreed to honor each other not only in life, but also to honor each other’s families beyond their own lifetimes.
David will not return to “normal life” until Saul is dead, and David is king. This was a pretty bleak road for David to walk, but it was God’s road for him. - David Guzik
