CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Samuel 20
Chapter 20 of 31
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Samuel 20
David and Jonathan make a plan to find out if Saul truly wants to kill David. When Saul's rage at the feast confirms the danger, Jonathan warns David. The two friends make a tearful goodbye, vowing eternal friendship and loyalty to each other's families.
Scripture
1 Samuel 20
David Asks for Jonathan's Help
Study note
David fled from Naioth and found Jonathan. He was desperate to understand why Saul wanted to kill him. Jonathan found it hard to believe his father would try to harm David, since Saul usually told Jonathan his plans. David pointed out that Saul knew about their friendship and would hide his intentions from Jonathan. They devised a plan: the next day was the New Moon festival, when David was expected to eat at the king's table. David would hide in a field, and Jonathan would gauge Saul's reaction to David's absence.
1 David slipped away from Naioth in Ramah and went straight to Jonathan. He pleaded, "What have I done wrong? What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he wants me dead?" 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 Jonathan said, "That is not going to happen! You are not going to die. My father never does anything, big or small, without telling me about it. Why would he keep this from me? You must be mistaken." 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 But David swore an oath and said, "Your father knows perfectly well that you and I are close. He is thinking, 'Jonathan must not find out about this, or he will be devastated.' But I promise you, as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I am just one step away from death." 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 Jonathan said, "Tell me what you need. Whatever it is, I will do it." Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.
5 David explained, "Tomorrow is the New Moon festival, and I am expected to eat dinner with the king. Instead, let me go hide out in the field until the evening of the third day." 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 your father asks where I am, say this. 'David asked to go to Bethlehem fast. His family has a yearly feast there.'" If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
7 "If he says, 'Fine,' then I am safe. But if he blows up in anger, you will know for certain he has made up his mind to hurt me." 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 "Please show me this kindness. You and I made a covenant in the Lord's presence. If there is any guilt in me, go ahead and kill me yourself. Do not turn me over to your father." 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?
9 Jonathan said, "Of course not! If I found out that my father had decided to harm you, do you truly think I would keep it from you?" 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 David asked, "But who is going to let me know if your father responds harshly?" Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
Jonathan's Covenant with David
Study note
Jonathan took David out to the field and made a solemn promise. He vowed to let David know whether Saul meant him harm. Jonathan asked David to show him and his descendants the Lord's loyal love, even when David became king and the Lord had cut off all of David's enemies. This was a remarkable request: Jonathan, the crown prince, was acknowledging that David would be the next king and asking David to protect his family. The two renewed their covenant of friendship.
11 Jonathan said, "Come on. Let us go out to the field together." So they went out into the open field. 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 Jonathan said to David, "I give you my word before the Lord, the God of Israel: by this time tomorrow or the next day, I will sound out my father's feelings. If things look good for you, I will make sure you know about it." 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 "But if my father is determined to hurt you, may the Lord punish me severely if I do not warn you and send you away to safety. May the Lord be with you the way he has been with my father." 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 while I am still alive, please show me the same faithful love the Lord shows, so that I do not die." And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
15 "Never stop being kind to my family. Keep this true even after the Lord wipes out all of David's foes." 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 binding agreement with David's family. He said, "May the Lord hold David's enemies accountable." 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 Jonathan made David swear to it again, because of how deeply Jonathan loved him. He loved David every bit as much as he loved himself. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
The Signal Plan
Study note
Jonathan set up a signal using arrows. After the festival, Jonathan would go to the field where David was hiding and shoot three arrows. If he told his servant the arrows were on the near side, David was safe. If he told the servant the arrows were beyond him, David must flee because Saul intended to kill him. Jonathan committed their agreement to the Lord as an eternal witness between them and their descendants.
18 Jonathan said, "Tomorrow is the New Moon festival. People will notice your chair is empty." Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19 "On the third day, hurry to the spot where you hid before. Wait near the stone called Ezel." 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 "I will go out and shoot three arrows off to the side, pretending I am aiming at a target." And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
21 "Then I will send a boy to go find the arrows. If I call out, 'The arrows are on this side of you, grab them and come here,' that means everything is fine. You are safe. I swear it on the Lord's name." 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 call out, 'The arrows landed farther out, past you,' then you need to go. The Lord is telling you to leave." 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 for the promise we made to each other, the Lord stands as a witness between you and me forever." And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
Saul's Rage at the Feast
Study note
David hid in the field. On the first day of the feast, Saul noticed David's empty seat but said nothing, thinking David might be ceremonially unclean. On the second day, Saul asked Jonathan where David was. Jonathan said David had asked permission to go to a family sacrifice in Bethlehem. Saul erupted in furious anger, insulting Jonathan and his mother. Saul told Jonathan that as long as David lived, Jonathan would never be king. When Jonathan tried to defend David, Saul threw his spear at his own son. Jonathan left the table in fierce anger, grieving for David.
24 David went and hid in the field. When the New Moon festival began, the king took his seat at the dinner table. So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25 Saul sat in his usual spot by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat beside Saul. But David's chair was empty. 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 Saul did not say anything about it that day. He figured, "Something must have made David ceremonially unclean. That is probably why he is not here." 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 But on the second day of the festival, David's seat was still empty. Saul asked Jonathan, "Why has Jesse's son not shown up for the meal, not yesterday and not today?" 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 Jonathan said, "David asked me if he could go to Bethlehem." And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:
29 "He said, 'Please let me go. My family has a sacrifice in our town, and my brother told me I need to be there. Please let me slip away and see my brothers.' Therefore he is not at the king's table." 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 Saul exploded with rage at Jonathan. He shouted, "You son of a stubborn, rebellious woman! Do you think I do not know you have sided with Jesse's son? It is shameful for you and shameful for your mother!" 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 "As long as Jesse's son walks this earth, you will never be secure in your position! Now send someone to bring him to me. He is a dead man!" 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 Jonathan pushed back, "Why should he be killed? What has he done wrong?" And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33 Saul answered by hurling his spear right at Jonathan, trying to kill him. That told Jonathan everything he needed to know: his father was dead set on killing David. And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
34 Jonathan shoved back from the table, burning with anger. He could not eat a bite on that second day of the festival. He was devastated over David and disgusted by the way his father had treated him. 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 and David's Tearful Farewell
Study note
The next morning Jonathan went to the field with a young boy. He shot an arrow and called out, 'The arrow is beyond you!' This was the signal that David must flee. Jonathan sent the boy back to town, and David came out of hiding. The two friends wept together, with David weeping the most. Jonathan said, 'Go in peace. We have sworn friendship in the Lord's name, and the Lord will be a witness between us and our descendants forever.' This was the last time they would meet as free men.
35 The next morning, Jonathan headed out to the field to meet David, just as they had planned. He brought a young boy along with him. 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 Jonathan told the boy, "Run out there and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan launched an arrow that sailed past him. 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 When the boy got to where the arrow had landed, Jonathan yelled, "The arrow is farther ahead! Keep going!" 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 Then Jonathan yelled even louder, "Hurry up! Run! Do not stop!" The boy picked up the arrow and brought it back to Jonathan. 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 The boy had no clue what any of this meant. Only Jonathan and David understood the signals. But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40 Jonathan handed his bow and arrows to the boy and told him, "Take these back to town for me." And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
41 After the boy left, David came out from his hiding spot on the south side. He dropped to his knees and bowed with his face to the ground three times. Then the two friends threw their arms around each other and cried. David wept the hardest. 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 Jonathan said, "Go in peace. We made a promise to each other in the Lord's name. We said, 'The Lord is a witness between you and me, and between your children and my children, forever.'" Then David got up and left, and Jonathan went back to town. 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.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Samuel 20
Covenant loyalty that costs everythingThe pain of separation for the sake of safetyTrue friendship tested by adversityGod as the witness between faithful friends
Apply This Today
Living 1 Samuel 20
Jonathan risked his father's fury and even his life to warn David. True friendship is tested not in comfortable times but in costly ones. The covenant between David and Jonathan extended beyond their own lives to their children. The most meaningful commitments we make are those that endure through hardship and outlast our own generation.
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