Comments on 1 Samuel 20

v1-23  Jonathan and David covenant such that Jonathan will
disclose whatever Saul is attempting to do to him so that he will
be protected.

v5 "the new moon", The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge states:

     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. 1Sa 20:6, Num 10:10,
     Num 28:11, 2Ki 4:23, Psa 81:3, Col 2:16, that I may. 1Sa
     20:19, Col 19:2, Psa 55:12, Pro 22:3, Jhn 8:59, Act 17:14.

Obtained from: 

  www.khouse.org/cgi-bin.blb/tsk.pl?book=1Sa&chapter=20&verse=5

v24-34  Over some feast Jonathan discovers Saul's intent is to
kill David regardless of the oath previously made in 19:6.
Apparently Jonathan was unaware of the events of 19:8-17 which
isn't surprising since he previously attempted a secret
combination in 19:1-7 but Jonathan dissuaded him from it, so Saul
excluded him from the second secret combination.  

     That these events occurred during a new moon feast is ironic
as that time was intended to be a religious one, centered on God
and the family.  However, here Saul is cursing his own son and
trying to kill him (v. 30, 33) and planing on killing David, and
trying to fight God (v. 31).

v25 "upon a seat by the wall", the inclusion of this detail
suggests paranoia.

v31  Saul is trying to fight against Samuel's pronouncement in
13:13.  Saul is trying to justify his attempts on David's life as
for the good of his lineage, his sons like Jonathan who would
inherit the throne after him.  This is clearly not Saul's real
intent as the main source of Saul's murderous desire is his
jealousy of David, but is some rationalization used to lash out
at Jonathan.  It also appears later as a justification in 24:20-
22.

v35-42  Jonathan informs David as previously agreed to in v. 18-
22 using a means that would permit David to remain in hiding. 
This is done so David would not have to reveal himself in the
event he didn't trust Jonathan, or that Jonathan had been
followed or something to that effect.  In any case, David trusts
Jonathan so he comes out of hiding to bid him a bitter farewell.

v42  The oath sworn here by Jonathan shows no pretense whatsoever
on his part to preserve the monarchy for himself, cp. 23:17. 
Thus, David's being anointed by Samuel to be the king of Israel
in the place of Saul must have been fairly common knowledge.
Jonathan's loyalty is to God.



Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller <kurtn@cybcon.com>.  All rights 
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