JONATHAN'S FINAL ATTEMPT TO RECONCILE HIS FATHER AND DAVID
A. David, coming from Naioth, meets Jonathan
1. (1 Sam 20:1-4) David asks Jonathan about Saul's intentions towards him; Jonathan promises his help to David
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and come and said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?" He said to him, "Far from it, you shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing great or small without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!" Yet David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he had said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.' But truly as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death." Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you."
David fled from Naioth: It is probable that on the advice of the prophet Samuel, David returns to consult with Jonathan. It may seem surprising that David could think of venturing back to Gibeah after Saul's last outburst, but David on his part was not willing to break with Saul and become an outlaw until absolutely forced to do so. Jonathan, knowing David's value to the kingdom, will use every effort to force a complete reconciliation between his father, Saul, and David.
David, alone with his friend Jonathan, passionately asserts his innocence of the crimes laid to his charge by the jealous King Saul. David's words here are found throughout his Psalms, where, in touching language, he maintains how bitterly the world has wronged and persecuted him, a righteous, innocent man.
It is interesting to note that David and King Saul must have had some sort of reconciliation after the incident at Naioth. For in verse 5, David is expected to attend Saul's new moon celebration. If David was hiding from Saul, Saul would not have expected David's attendance at his feast.
What have I done: Here, David checks his relationship with Jonathan. David wants to know what Saul thought, but even more importantly, David wants to know what Jonathan thought. In asking, "What have I done?" David want to know if Jonathan has broken his friendship with David and sided with his father, Saul.
Far from it, you shall not die: Jonathan even now refuses to believe that his beloved father really wished to harm David. Recalling to mind Saul's oath ("Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed, 'As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death'" 1 Samuel 19:6), Jonathan attributes his father's recent violence to his temporary madness. Jonathan assures David that he was still David's loyal friend. He had not believed the lies Saul was telling about David.
Saul's rash talk about killing David in 1 Samuel 19:1 confirms Jonathan's statement that his father discloses everything to him. Jonathan urges David that if the king had plans to kill David, he would have consulted him, to whom Saul ever confided all his deepest secrets.
Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight: Although Saul did not know the entirety of Jonathan's love for David, he was aware of the friendship that existed between them and consequently might keep his purpose a secret from Jonathan, especially since his frankness in speaking opening to his son and servants on a previous occasion resulted in the escape of David.
There is hardly a step between me and death: This statement reveals David's discouragement. David knew that Saul attempted to kill him many times, and it seemed Saul would not quit until David was finally assassinated. David felt his death was inevitable, and one wrong step and he would be dead.
Whatever you say, I will do for you: Jonathan continues to reassure David, bringing encouragement and an offer of help to a very downhearted friend.
2. (1 Sam 20:5-11) David proposes to test Saul's attitude
So David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening. If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family,' If he says, 'It is good,' your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil. Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?" Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?" Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?" Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." So both of them went out to the field.
Tomorrow is the new moon: The new moon called Rosh Chodesh in Hebrew is a one or two day festival. Jewish months, which are fixed to the cycle of the moon, have either 29 or 30 days. At the close of a 30-day month, the 30th day of the outgoing month and the first day of the new month are called Rosh Chodesh making it a two day festival. If the month only has 29 days, only the first day of the new month is celebrated as Rosh Chodesh making it only a one day celebration. As we see from the text in verse 27 that the new moon festival Saul celebrated lasted two days, meaning the previous month before this Rosh Chodesh takes place had 30 days.
Rosh Chodesh was celebrated with special sacrifices described in Numbers 28:11-16:
"Then at the beginning of each of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without defect, and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for the one ram; and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for each lamb, for a burnt offering of a soothing aroma, an offering by fire for the LORD. Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull and a third of a hin for the ram and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. And one goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering."
Additionally on Rosh Chodesh, trumpets were blown. "Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God, I am the LORD your God" (Numbers 10:10).
If your father misses me: David asks Jonathan to observe Saul's reaction to David's absence at an important feast held for Saul's high officials and family members. David wonders if Saul would take the opportunity to make peace with David or if he would use the opportunity to continue his desire to slay David.
Yearly sacrifice: The Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 12:5 and following verses) strictly required these great sacrifices to be kept at the Tabernacle. But since the destruction of the Tabernacle at Shiloh, there had been no central sanctuary. From this text, we can see that these sacrifices had been continued, but their observances were relegated to family or tribal centers. It is not clear if David's family actually was hosting a yearly sacrifice and David had wanted to attend it and meant to hide in the field afterwards, or if he regarded the whole story as a justifiable deception to avoid exciting Saul's anger.
For you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you: As the friendship between Jonathan and David had been cemented by the invocation of the name of the LORD, it was firm and assured. David might not look for merely one act of kindness, but for constant truth and help. Moreover, it was Jonathan's own desire for the covenant. Yet, David says, "if there is iniquity in me" (i.e., treason against Saul), if David had not been a faithful and true servant to Saul, but on the contrary, plotted evil against him, then the covenant should be revoked. David refuses to shelter himself under the covenant if he has incurred guilt. He only asks Jonathan, by the authority which he exercises as being the king's son, should himself put David to death, and not deliver David up to Saul.
Far be it from you: This strong expression bears emphatic testimony to Jonathan's belief in his friend's loyalty. Jonathan refuses to take David's life or even to allow David's life to be touched by his father.
Who will tell me: David now poses a practical problem. If Saul has determined evil against David, and Jonathan intends to warn him, how will he do it? How will Jonathan get the message to David?
B. Jonathan's agreement
1. (1 Sam 20:12-13) Jonathan will discover the state of his father's heart towards David
Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you? If it please my father to do you harm, may the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also, it I do not make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.
When I have sounded out my father: Jonathan will find out his father's heart and will report it to David, to let David know if Saul thinks well or evil of David.
And send you away, that you may go in safety: Jonathan know that if his father, Saul, intends evil against David, it means that David must go away. He will not be welcomed in the palace and would not be safe at home with his wife, Michal. By giving David early warning of this, Jonathan will help David "go in safety".
And may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father: Jonathan wants to give David more than a warning. He wants to give him encouragement too. It is as if Jonathan is saying, "David, even if you must leave the palace and your wife and your home to flee as a fugitive, the LORD will be with you."
Jonathan shows his spiritual maturity when he says, "as He has been with my father." One might think that the LORD was against Saul instead of for him. But Jonathan knew that God was for Saul. God had given many opportunities for Saul to repent.
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