18 Then Jonathan said to him, " Tomorrow is the new moon , and you will be missed because your seat will be empty . 19 "When you have stayed for three days , you shall go down quickly and come to the place where e you hid yourself on that eventful day , and you shall remain by the stone Ezel . 20 "I will shoot three arrows to the side , as though I shot at a target . 21 "And behold , I will send the lad , saying, 'Go , find the arrows .' If I specifically say to the lad , 'Behold , the arrows are on this side of you, get them,' then come ; for there is safety for you and no harm , as the Lord lives . 22 "But if I say to the youth , ' Behold , the arrows are beyond e you,' go , for the Lord has sent you away . 23 " As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken , behold , the Lord is between you and me forever e ."
24 So David hid in the field ; and when the new moon came , the king sat down to eat food . 25 The king sat on his seat as usual , the seat by the wall ; then Jonathan rose up and Abner sat down by Saul's side , but David's place was empty . 26 Nevertheless Saul did not speak anything that day , for he thought , "It is an accident , he is not clean , surely he is not clean ." 27 It came about the next day , the second day of the new moon , that David's place was empty ; so Saul said to Jonathan his son , "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal , either yesterday or today ?" 28 Jonathan then answered Saul , " David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem , 29 for he said , 'Please let me go , since our family has a sacrifice in the city , and my brother has commanded me to attend. And now , if I have found favor in your sight , please let me get away that I may see my brothers .' For this reason e he has not come to the king's table ." 30 Then Saul's anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse , rebellious woman! Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness ? 31 "For as long e as the son of Jesse lives on the earth , neither you nor your kingdom will be established . Therefore now , send and bring him to me, for he must surely die ." 32 But Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, " Why should he be put to death ? What has he done ?" 33 Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down ; so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death . 34 Then Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger , and did not eat food on the second day of the new moon , for he was grieved over David because his father had dishonored him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:18-34
Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:11-23
(Read 1 Samuel 20:11-23)
Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted sinners! how great then ought to be the force and effects of our love to him, to his cause, and his people!
Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:24-34
(Read 1 Samuel 20:24-34)
None were more constant than David in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent, but self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In great peril present opportunities for Divine ordinances may be waved. But it is bad for us, except in case of necessity, to omit any opportunity of statedly attending on them. Jonathan did wisely and well for himself and family, to secure an interest in David, yet for this he is blamed. It is good to take God's people for our people. It will prove to our advantage at last, however it may now be thought against our interest. Saul was outrageous. What savage beasts, and worse, does anger make men!