Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
David Considls with Jonalhan. 1 SAMUEL XX. Said Secl-g to Kill Jonathan.
bourhood of Ramah. It was a retreat congenial to the mind of David; but Saul, having found out liis asylum, sent three successive bodies of men to apprehend him. The character of the place, and the influence of the sacred exercises produced such aji etfect on tliem, that they were Incapable of discharging their commission, and were led, by a resistless impulse, to join in singing tiie praises of God. Saul, in a lit of rage and disappointment, determined to go himself. But, before reaching the spot, his mental susceptibilities were roused even more tlian his mes.se Tigers, and he was found, ere long, swelling tlie ranks of the young prophets. This singular change can be ascribed only to tlie power of Him wlio can turn the hearts of men even as the rivers of water.
part of the conditions—the reiteration of this covenant on botli sides (?•. 17) to make it indissoluble ; all this indicates sucJi a power of mutual aflection, such magnetic attractiveness in the character of David, such susceptibility and elevation of feeling in the heart of Jonathan, that tills interview for dramatic interest ami moral beauty stands unrivalled in the records of human friendsliip. 19. wlien tlion liast stayed tliree days—Either with your family at Bethlehem, or wherever you find it convenient, come to tlie place wliere tlion <Ud!>t Iiide tliyself vi'lien tUe bnsiness was in liand Hch., " in the day or time of the liusiness," when the same matter was under inquiry formerly (ch. 19. 22). remain by tlie stone Ej.el Heb., "the stone of the way;" a sort of miiestone wliich directed travellers. He was to conceal himself in some cave or hiding-yilace near that spot. as tonc Uing the matter wliieti tliou and I Itave spokeik of—The plan being concerted, the friends separated for a time, and the amiable character of Jonathan again peers out in his parting allusion to their covenant of friendship.
24. Saul Prophesies. a4. lay dotvn naked—j. e., divested of his armour and outer robes—in a state of ti-ance. Thus God, in making the wrath of man to praise Him, preserved the lives of all the prophets, frustrated all the purposes of Saul, and preserved the life of his servant.
OHAPTER XX.
2t-40. Saul, Missing David, Seeksto Kill Jonathan. 25. tlie king sat npon liis seat, as at otlier times . . , by tUe wall—The left-hand corner at the upper end of a room was and still is in the East, the most honourable place. The person seated there has his left arm confined by the wall, but his right hand is at full liberty. From Aimer's position next the king, and David's seat being
Ver. 1-10. David Consults with Jonathan for his Safety. 1. David fled fi-oin Naiotli in Rnmali, and came and said before Jonatlian—He could not remain In Naioth, for he had strong reason to fear, tliat when the religious fit, if we may so call it, was over, .Saul would relapse into his usual fell and sanguinary temper. It may be thought that David acted imprudently in directing his flight to Gibeah. But he was evidently prompted to go thither by the most generous feelings—to inform his friend of what had recently occurred, and to obtain that friend's sanction to the course he was compelled to adopt. Jonathan could not be persuaded there was any real danger after the oath his father had taken ; at all events, he felt assured his father would do nothing without telling him. Filial attachment naturally blinded the prince to defects in tlie parent-iil character, and made him reluctant to believe his father capal)le of such atrocity. David repeated his unshaken convictions of Saul's murderous purpose, but in terms delicately chosen (v. 3), not to wound the filial feelings of his friend; while Jonathan, clinging, it would seem, to a hope that the extraordinary scene enacted at Naioth might have wrought a sanctified improvement on Saul's temper and feelings, undertook to inform David of the result of his observations at home. 5. David t>ald to •Tonatlian, To-morrow is tiie ne%v moon, and I slioiilfl not fail to Kit willt (lie king at meat—Tlie beginning of a new montli or moon was always celebrated by special .sacrifices, followed by feasting, at which the head of a family expected all its members to be present. David, both as the king's son-in-law and a distinguished courtier, dined on such occasions at the royal tal)le, and from its being generally known that David had returned to Gibeah, his presence in the jialaee would be naturally expected. This occasion was chosen by the two friends for testing the king's state of feeling. As a suitable pretext for David's al)senco, it was arranged that he should visit his family at Bethlehem, and thus create an opportunity of ascertaining how his non-appearance would be viewed. The time and p\;ice were fixed for Jonatlian reporting to David ; butas circumstances might render another interview unsafe, it was deemed expedient to communicate by a concerted signal.
left empty, it would seem that a state etiquette was observed at the royal table, each of the courtiers and ministers having places assigned them according to their respective gradations of rank. Jonathan arose—Either as a mark of respect on the entrance of the king, or in conformity with the usual Oriental custom for a son to stand in presence of ins father. 30, he is not clean—No notice was taken of David's absence, as he might be labouring under sofne ceremonial defilement. 27. on the morrow, whicli was the second day of the montli—The time of the moon's appearance being uncertain—whether at midday, in tlie evening, or at miilnight, the festival was extended over two days. Custom, not the law, liad introduced tllis. Sanl said unto Jonathan, AVIierefore Cometh not the son of Jesst—The questi<m was asked, as it were, casually, and with as great an air of indilference as he could assume. And Jonathan having replied that David liad asked and obtained his permission to attend a family auniversar.y at Bethlehem, the pent-up passions of the king burst out in a most violent storm of rage and Invective against his son. 30. thon son of the pervei-se woman—This is a striking Oriental form of abuse. Saul was not angry with his wife; it was the son alone, upon whom he meant, by this style of address, to discharge his resentment; and the principle on which It is founded seems to be, that to a genuine fllial instinct It is a more inexpiable o/fence to hear the name or character of 11 parent traduced, tlian any personal reproach. Thia was, undoubtedly, one cause of "the lli'rce anger" lu which the high-niiiided iirince lelf the table without tasting a morsel. 33. Soul cast q Jnvellii at liim—This is a sa<l proof of the maniacal frenzy into which tlic unhappy monarch was transported. 35. Jonatlian went into tlie field at tlie time np|n>infcd—or, "at tlu> jilace appointed." '>(>. Ike said (o the liid, Kiiii, find out the arrows which I slkoot— the direction gi\ eii aloud to the attendant was the signal iireconcertinl with David. It implied danger. 40. Jonathan gave his artillery unta his lad— r., his missive weapons. The French word " artillerle," slgu Sties "arcliery," and the term is still used in England, in the designation of the "artillerj company of li Ondon," the association of archers, thoiigli they have long disused bows and arrows. Jonathan's boy being despatched out of the way, the fi'lends enjoyed the satisfaction of a final meeting.
U-2.'i. Their Covenant Renewed nv Oath. ll..Tonatlinn said to David, Come, l<^t ns go into tike tleld—The privati dialogue, which is Ikm-c detailed at full length, presents a most beautiful exhiliition of these? twoainialile and noble-minded friends. Jotialhan was led, in tliecircumstane(!S, to bo the cliief speaker. Tlie strength of his attachment, his pure disinterestedness, his w.arm piety —his Invocation to God, consisting of a prayer and a Folemn oath combined-the calm and lull exi)ression he gave of his conviction that his own family were, liy the Divine will, to be disinherited, and David clevaled to the possession of the tlirono—the covenant entered Into with David on behalf of his descendants, and the Imprecation
41, 12. Jonathan and David I.ovincjt.y Part. 41,4!}. IJavld IV'll on his face ami I>om cil three times—a token of liomiige to the prince's rank; but on a close apiiroach,
( very otlier consideration was sunk in the lull How of tha purest brotlierly ad'ection. 43. Jonnthnn said 1o Davidi t.o in peace—The Interview being a stolen one, and every
(v. denounced on unv of them who should violate his