The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 383

EXPOSITION. r OPEN HATRED. 01!' SAUL AGAINST DAVID jocose way of speaking adopted by Jona th1U1> {vers. 24-34). Vers. 2f-26.-The king !at as if the matter were a mere trifle. him down to eat meat. Hebrew, "the king Vers. 30, 31.-Thou son of the perversd 1:1at down at the bread to eat." On sitting rebellious woman. Literally, "thou son at table see eh. xvi 11. And Jonathan of one perverse in rebellion." In the East 11rose. When the king had taken· his usual it is the greatest possible insult to a man to place, that of honour, next the wall,- aud call his mother names; but the word rendered therefore farthest from the door, Jone.than perverse, instead of being a feminine adjec• arose and took his place on one side of the tive, is probably an abstract noun, and "son king, while Abner sat on the other, David's . of perversity of rebellion" would mean one place below them was left empty. The who was thoroughly perverse in his resistance -0mission of the statement that Jonathan sat to his father's will. Unto the confusion of down makes the passa~e obscure, nnd the thy mother's nakedness. I. e. thy mother versions bungle in rena!lring it, but ther~ will feel ashamed and disgraced at having can be little doubt that these words ought borne such a son. He shall surely die. to be su_pplied. He is not clean. Saul Hebrew, "he is a son of death," son being supposed that some cei'emonial defilement constantly used in Hebrew to express quali- • (see Levit. xv: Z,.:.:.16) had befallen David, ties, or, as here, the fate to which a man is and as the new moon was a religious festival, destined. this would necessal'ily prevent h'is attendance. Vers. 32-M.-,Vhen Jonathan pleaded Vers. 27-29.-0n the morrow, which was mildly for his friend, Saul did not cast, but the second day of the month. Hebrew, " brandished" (sea on eh. xviii. 11) his " on the ·morrow of the new moon, . the javelin a.t him, threatening to smite him. second day." David's absence on the second Thi~ fierce behaviour of his fother filled day made Saul aware that it was no accident, Jonathan also with anger, and he arose, nnd he demands of Jone.than the reason ; refused to partake of the meal, and want whereupon he gives the excuse previously away in wrath. His indignation was roused . arranged, adding that it was David's brother not merely at his father having thus bmnd- who had required his attendance. The ished his javelin in his face, for he was Septuagint has brothers, being offended at sitting close to So.ul, but because ha ho.d the siniu]ar, because Jesse was still alive. cast shameful aspersions upon David in But as the festival ·was not confined to J ease's saying that he was a. rebel, e.nd deserved householcl, his brother might very properly be death. the convener, without usurping his father's JoNATHAN's LAST MEETING WITH DAVID place: Lot me get ·away. Litorally, "let (vers. 35--42). Vera. 35-38.-The next me escape," "let me get off," a light, hnlf morning Jonathan went out into the field, CC '2  THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. l CH. XX. 24-4:t. not at the time, but "to the place" ap- titan's _dignity, yet friendship prevailed, and pointed, taking with him a little lad, as less they kissed one another and wept sore until Jikely to suspect a reason. Having shot at David exceeded, i. e. broke down, a1;d was the mark, he sends him to pick up the arrows, completely mastered by his grief. And so and as he runs to do so he shoots one beyond they parted 1 David. to begin a life of danger him, ond, calling aloud, gives David the sign and wandermg, wlule Jonathnn returned to that there was no hope. To keep the boy's the city to be a dutiful son to Saul. Phillip- attention eng-aged he gives him hurried com- son remarks, "The scene.• in thi~ chapter are mands - Make speed, haste, stay not. ~om~ of the most a~ecting presentei to us Instead of the arrows the written text has m lustory, whether m old or modem times,· "Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrow," and we may well wonder at the delicacy of i e. that one especially which Jonathan had feeling and the gentleness of the sentiments shot beyond him, and to which his rapid which these two men in those old rough commands referred. times entertained for one another. N r Vers. 40-42.-B:is artillery. I. e. his ancient writer has set before us so noble an weapons. To get rid of the boy Jonathan example of a heart-felt, unselfish, and sends him home with his bow aud arrows, thoroughly human state of feeling, and none and then David arose out of a place toward has described friendship with such entire the sonth, or "from the south side" of the truth in all its relations, and with such atone Ezel, and while not forgetting in his complete and profound knowledge of the repeated obeisance the honour due to Jona- human heart."