I SAMUEL 20: DAVID AND JONATHAN

There are a couple of items that need straightening out first before making some comments on individual verses. Some commentators complain that the issues involved in this chapter could probably have been settled a lot more simply than described. But Murphy perceptively replies that “we start from the false premise that the episode is about Jonathan helping David to escape his father, whereas it is really about David helping Jonathan to escape his father...David wants to get his friend to do what most men avoid: to accept that some people, even beloved family members, are evil...” Baldwin agrees when he says, “Above all, Jonathan must be convinced that David's assessment of his father's intentions is justified.”

The other main issue concerns the unity of this chapter. McKenzie, McCarter, and others label verses 41-42a as a later addition to the text for two reasons: (1) there seems to be no reason for the prearranged signal with the arrow since David and Jonathan end up meeting right out in the open, and (2) these verses appear to repeat earlier material in the chapter. The second question is answered by considering the overall literary structure of the chapter which shows that these verses (Section C' below) are purposefully there to form a parallel with vv. 14-17 and thus obviously part of the original story.

The second objection is not a strong one to begin with. Although David and Jonathan did meet openly earlier in the story, that was before Saul's suspicions in regard to his son's loyalty came under serious scrutiny. Thus, David and Jonathan had every reason to believe that Saul would be spying on them from that point on. So the two decide on the ruse of archery to get away from the royal residence into the countryside. At that point, the only possible spy present is the servant boy. And so when he is dismissed, the two friends are able to converse openly without fear of discovery. Payne agrees with this basic scenario.

The Structure of I Samuel 20

A. David flees Saul by leaving Ramah (v. 1a)

    B. David's plan to gauge Saul's intent (vv. 1b-13)

        C. Covenant between David and Jonathan (vv. 14-17)

            D. Jonathan's plan to inform David (vv. 18-24a)

    B'. David's plan carried out (vv. 24b-34)

            D'. Jonathan's plan carried out (vv. 35-40)

        C'. Covenant between David and Jonathan (vv. 41-42a)

A'. David flees Saul by leaving Jerusalem (v. 42b)

The Anchor Bible translation of v. 1 reads, “He has sworn a pact between me and Death.” If this rendering is correct, then it forms an inclusion for the whole chapter with v. 42 in which David and Jonathan renew their pact with one another.

Section B begins with the suggestion that Jonathan would grieve if he knew that Saul was trying to kill David. Section B' ends with Jonathan indeed grieving. Similarly, B begins with David asking, “What did I do?” while B' concludes with Jonathan asking Saul, “What did he do?”

Verse 2: See I Samuel 19:6 where Saul had sworn to Jonathan that he was not after David's life. Jonathan practically repeats his father's words: “He shall not be put to death.” Jonathan here seems not so much incredulous that Saul will try again to kill David, but that he would keep his plans from himself.

Verse 3: David rather diplomatically and gently replies that Saul might not have wanted to grieve Jonathan. We will see in v. 30 that Saul's motive was more likely to conceal his plans suspecting that Jonathan might warn David.

Verse 5: The New Moon was a festival day in which all the family members ate together. Tsumura notes that it sometimes lasted two days or even three. In his excellent commentary on I Samuel, he discusses in detail the time and duration of the festival. Other references to this celebration are found in Numbers 10:10; 28:11-15; 29:6; Hosea 2:13; 5:7; and Amos 8:5.

Verse 8: For the second time (see v. 1) David brings up the question of his possible guilt. He also expresses some doubts regarding Jonathan's sincerity and fears that Jonathan will perhaps be leading him into a trap.

Verse 13: The same oath formula is found in 3:17 and 14:44. And actually, the whole of chapter 20 is filled with oaths, vows, covenants, etc.

    3. “as the LORD lives and as you live”

    8. a covenant of the LORD

    12. by the LORD, the God of Israel

    13. the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also

    16. Jonathan makes a covenant

    17. Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him

    23. the LORD is witness between you and me forever

    42. both of us have sworn in the name of the LORD

Verse 13b. ESV reads “May the Lord elevate you to the kingdom, as he raised my father.”

Verse 14: Hesed is translated as loyal love, loving constancy, faithful love, etc. Brockington notes: “Love and loyalty are the very essence of any relationship based on a personal covenant.”

Verses 14-15: Whether or not the above translation is correct, Tsumura states that most commentators agree that these subsequent verses indicate that Jonathan knew that David would become the next king.

Verses 14-16: David later keeps his promise when he protects Mephibosheth (II Samuel 9).

Verse 19: Baldwin gives as possible meanings: “the stone there” or “stone of departure.” The Jewish Targum calls it a “sign-stone.” In Hebrew, the stone is called ha'eben ha'azel. Compare this to ha'eben ha'ezer (“stone of help,” or Ebenezer) found in I Samuel 4:1; 5:1; and 7:12. (Tsumura)

Verse 26: Saul thinks David has accidentally rendered himself ritually unclean, but that impurity would have only lasted until sundown, so why wasn't he at the second day of the feast?

Verse 27: Note that Saul never pronounces David's name, but instead calls him “the son of Jesse” as “a disdainful reference.” (McKenzie)

Murphy makes an interesting comment here: “Some readers are perplexed that Saul can't imagine why David would not want to come to dinner with him. But we have to remember that, in Saul's paranoid imagination, David is a threat to him, not vice versa.”

Verse 29: Since it was a family feast, David could rightfully celebrate it either with his own family or with Saul's, since David was his son-in-law.

Verse 33: Many modern commentators make it clear that Saul did not actually throw his spear at Jonathan, just waved it about in a threatening manner.