1V tom utíkaje David z Náiot, kteréž jest v Ráma, přišel a mluvil před Jonatou: Což jsem učinil? Jaká jest nepravost má? A jaký jest hřích můj před otcem tvým, že hledá bezživotí mého? 2Kterýž řekl jemu: Odstup to, neumřeš. Aj, nečiníť otec můj ničeho ani velikého ani malého, čehož by se mi nesvěřil. Jak by tedy otec můj tajil to přede mnou! Neníť toho. 3Nadto přisáhl také David, (to promluviv: Dobřeť ví otec tvůj, že jsi laskav na mne, protož myslí: Nechť neví o tom Jonata, aby neměl zámutku). Nýbrž jistě, živť jest Hospodin, a živať jest duše tvá, že sotva jest kročej mezi mnou a mezi smrtí. 4Odpověděl Jonata Davidovi: Pověz, čehokoli žádáš, a učiním tobě. 5I řekl David Jonatovi: Aj, zítra bude novměsíce, kdyžto já mám obyčej sedati s králem k jídlu; protož propusť mne, a skryji se na poli až do třetího večera. 6Jestliže by se zvláštně na mne ptal otec tvůj, řekneš: Prosil mne velice David, aby sběhl do Betléma města svého; nebo obět výroční tam míti má všecka jeho rodina. 7Řekne-liť: Dobře, pokoj služebníku tvému; pakliť se rozzlobí, věz, žeť se doplnila zlost jeho. 8A tak učiníš milosrdenství s služebníkem svým, poněvadž jsi v smlouvu Hospodinovu uvedl služebníka svého s sebou. Pakliť jest na mně nepravost, zabí mne sám; nebo k otci svému proč bys mne vodil? 9I řekl Jonata: Odstup to od tebe; nebo zvím-liť to jistotně, že by se doplnila zlost otce mého, aby přišla na tě, zdaliž neoznámím tobě toho? 10Řekl také David Jonatovi: Kdož mi oznámí, jestliže odpoví tobě otec tvůj něco tvrdě? 11Odpověděl Jonata Davidovi: Poď, vyjděme na pole. I vyšli oba na pole. 12Opět řekl Jonata Davidovi: Hospodin Bůh Izraelský, (hned jakž porozumím na otci svém, okolo tohoto času zítra neb pozejtří, an bude dobře s Davidem, jestliže nepošli tehdáž k tobě, a neoznámím-liť), 13Toto učiň Hospodin Jonatovi a toto přidej. Pakliť se bude líbiti otci mému uvésti zlé na tebe, takéť i to zjevím tobě a propustím tě; i půjdeš v pokoji, a Hospodin budiž s tebou, jakož byl s otcem mým. 14A zdaliž i ty, dokud jsem živ, neučiníš se mnou milosrdenství Hospodinova, ano bychť i umřel, 15Tak že neodvrátíš milosrdenství svého od domu mého až na věky, zvláště tehdáž, když Hospodin vypléní nepřátely Davidovy, jednoho každého se svrchku země. 16A tak učinil Jonata smlouvu s domem Davidovým, řka: Vyhledávejž Hospodin toho z ruky nepřátel Davidových. 17Ještě i přísahou zavázal Jonata v lásce odměnné k sobě Davida; nebo jakož miloval duši svou, tak jej miloval. 18I řekl mu Jonata: Zítra bude novměsíce, a bude se ptáti na tebe, když prázdné bude místo tvé. 19Do třetího tedy dne skrývaje se, sstoupíš rychle a přijdeš k tomu místu, na kterémžs se byl skryl, když se to jednalo, a pobudeš u kamene pocestných. 20A já tři střely vystřelím po straně k němu, směřuje sobě k cíli. 21Potom hned pošli pachole a dím: Jdi, shledej střely. Jestliže prostě řeknu služebníku: Hle, střely za tebou blíže sem, přines je, tedy přiď, nebo jest pokoj tobě, a neníť žádného nebezpečenství, živť jest Hospodin. 22Pakli takto řeknu pacholeti: Hle, střely jsou před tebou dále, tedy odejdi, nebo propustil tě Hospodin. 23Řeči pak této, kterouž jsme mluvili já a ty, aj, Hospodin svědek bude mezi mnou a mezi tebou až na věky. 24A tak skryl se David na poli. Byl pak novměsíce, i sedl král za stůl k jídlu. 25A seděl král na stolici své, jakž obyčej měl, na stolici u stěny, ale Jonata povstal. Sedl také Abner podlé Saule, a místo Davidovo zůstalo prázdné. 26A však toho dne Saul nic neříkal, nebo myslil: Něco se mu přihodilo, buď že čistý jest neb nečistý. 27Stalo se pak nazejtří, druhého dne novměsíce, že opět prázdné bylo místo Davidovo. I řekl Saul Jonatovi synu svému: Proč nepřišel syn Izai ani včera ani dnes k jídlu? 28Odpověděl Jonata Saulovi: Velice mne prosil David, aby šel do Betléma. 29A řekl: Odpusť mne, prosím, nebo obět má míti rodina naše v městě, a bratr můj sám rozkázal mi přijíti; nyní tedy, nalezl-li jsem milost před očima tvýma, nechť se odtrhnu, prosím, abych navštívil bratří své. Tou příčinou nepřišel k stolu královskému. 30I rozhněval se Saul náramně na Jonatu, a řekl jemu: Synu převrácený a urputný, zdaliž nevím, že jsi zvolil sobě syna Izai k hanbě své, i k hanbě a lehkosti matky své? 31Nebo po všecky dny, v nichž bude živ syn Izai na zemi, nebudeš upevněn ty, ani království tvé. Protož hned pošli a přiveď jej ke mně, nebť jest hoden smrti. 32Odpověděl Jonata Saulovi otci svému, a řekl jemu: Proč má umříti? Což jest učinil? 33I hodil Saul kopím na něj, aby ho zabil. Tedy seznav Jonata, že uložil otec jeho zabiti Davida, 34Vstal od stolu Jonata, rozpálen jsa hněvem, a nejedl toho druhého dne novuměsíce pokrmu, nebo bolestil pro Davida, a že ho tak zlehčil otec jeho. 35Protož stalo se ráno, že vyšel Jonata na pole k času uloženému Davidovi, a pachole malé s ním. 36Tedy řekl pacholeti svému: Běž a shledej střely, kteréž já vystřelím. I běželo pachole, a on střílel daleko před něj. 37Když pak přišlo pachole až k cíli, k němuž střílel Jonata, volal Jonata za pacholetem a řekl: Zdaliž není střely před tebou tam dále? 38Opět volal Jonata za pacholetem: Rychle pospěš, nestůj. A tak sebravši pachole Jonatovo střely, vrátilo se k svému pánu. 39(Pachole pak nic nevědělo, toliko Jonata a David věděli, co se jedná.) 40I dal Jonata braň svou pacholeti, kteréž s ním bylo, a řekl jemu: Jdi, dones do města. 41A když odešlo pachole, vstal David s strany polední, a padna na tvář svou k zemi, poklonil se třikrát; a políbivše jeden druhého plakali oba, až Jonata Davida pozdvihl. 42I řekl Jonata Davidovi: Jdiž u pokoji, a což jsme sobě oba přisáhli ve jménu Hospodinovu, řkouce: Hospodin budiž svědkem mezi mnou a tebou, i mezi semenem mým a mezi semenem tvým, nechť trvá až na věky. 43A tak vstav David, odšel, Jonata pak navrátil se do města.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 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 (
1Sam 18:1), and he was
a brother that was born for adversity, Prov 17:17. 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? 1Sam 20:1. 2. He endeavors 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,
1Sam 20:2. 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, endeavored 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,
1Cor 13:5. 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, 1Sam 20:3. 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 (
1Sam 20:4):
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 (
1Sam 20:5), 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,
1Sam 20:7. 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, 1Sam 20:6. 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,
1Sam 20:8. (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.
9 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 (
1Sam 20:9):
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 (
1Sam 20:11), 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 (
1Sam 20:12), if evil, I will
send thee away, that thou mayest be safe (
1Sam 20:13); 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 (
1Sam 20:12):
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 (
1Sam 20:13), 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, Hebre 6:17,
Hebre 6:18. 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, (1Sam:20:14-16). He engages David to be a friend to his family when he was gone (
1Sam 20:15):
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 (
1Sam 20:16)
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 (
1Sam 20:16):
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 9:5), and this he would effectually prevent; but the reason given (
1Sam 20:17) 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 (
1Sam 20:23), 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,
2Sam 9:7;
2Sam 21:7. 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,
1Sam 20:18. On the third day, by which time he would have returned from Bethlehem, he must be at such a place (
1Sam 20:19), and Jonathan would come towards that place with his bow and arrows to shoot for diversion (
1Sam 20:20), 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 (
1Sam 20:21); but, if he shot beyond the lad, it was a signal of danger, and he must shift for his safety,
1Sam 20:22. 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.
24 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 (
1Sam 20:25), 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 21:27. 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 himself 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, 1Sam 20:26. 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,
Pss 26:6.
II. He is enquired for the second day,
1Sam 20:27. 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,
1Sam 20:28,
1Sam 20:29. 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 (
1Sam 17:28), 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 (
1Sam 20:30,
1Sam 20:31), 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,
1Sam 20:2. 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 (
1Sam 20:34), 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 (
1Sam 20:32),
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,
1Sam 20:33. He seemed to be in great care (
1Sam 20:31) 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 11:17.
35 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 (
1Sam 20:35), within sight of which he knew David lay hid, sent his footboy to fetch his arrows, which he would shoot at random (
1Sam 20:36), and gave David the fatal signal by shooting an arrow beyond the lad (
1Sam 20:37):
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, 1Sam 23:16. (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, 1Sam 20:41. 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.
