David the RefugeeEpisode Two: Jonathon’s Friendship

I Samuel 20

-The language contained in the first half of chapter 20 is very forceful, strident and emotionally charged. Verb structures.

-both David and Jonathon frequently invoke the Lord’s name in solemn oaths. (i.e. “As the Lord lives”)

-both David and Jonathan utter self-imprecations and blessings. (i.e. “As you live”, )

-both David and Jonathon repeatedly protest, implore and react in the strongest terms possible. We see them emphasize their statements frequently w/ “behold”!

THE CONVERSATIONS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE HEATED AND HIGHLY CHARGED EMOTIONALLY! Later—PG-13!

The Bible is real literature and history, portraying real people, doing real things, using real language.

OUTLINE

I. David and Jonathon exchange intelligence(vv. 1-4)

II. David and Jonathon develop a plan (vv. 5-23)

A. David’s plan to help Jonathon understand (vv. 5-7)

B. David and Jonathon’s covenant (vv. 8-17)C. Jonathon’s plan to communicate w/ David(vv. 18-23)

III. The plan unfolds (vv. 24-34)

IV. David and Jonathon separated (vv. 35-42)

I. David and Jonathon exchange intelligence

A. David’s flight from Saul drives him from Naioth in Ramah back to Saul’s hill fort in Gibeah

where he meets w/ his friend Jonathon. (vv. 1-4).

1. Notice the disconnect in their conversation

David—”What did I do? Why does he seek my life?” (v. 4)

Jonathon-”You’re mistaken, he doesn’t seek your life. Far from it!! My father does nothing w/o telling me first [literally “opening my ear”]. If he intended to kill you, I would know it!” (Post 19:6)

2. Clearly, for some reason, Jonathon is out of the loop.

-After the events of I Samuel 19:1-3; 6, Saul has obviously seen the need to limit Jonathon’s “access” to his thinking. Bottom line, despite Jonathon’s protestation’s to the contrary, he has no idea of Saul’s real intentions and the severity of David’s peril.

-so, Jonathon, the trusting son and loyal friend can’t believe that Saul would want to kill David (19:6), until it is painfully obvious to him.

Jonathon is really caught in the middle here.

3. David explains the situation in v. 3-Your father knows that I have found favor in your sight. . . ”

-”Jonathon, he knows we are good friends, that’s why he keeps this from you, so you can’t be a ‘security’ leak”!

4. Then, David relates the desperation of his situation in the strongest terms possible “As the Lord lives, and

as your soul lives, I am only a step from death”!

“vowed”=“David took an oath”= “I swear to you”

“as your soul lives”=“by your life”

One of the most solemn of oaths, see Hannah and Eli in I Samuel 1:26.

There is a recurring emphasis here, and throughout the chapter,-who does and does not “know” what the situation truly is. Words using the root “YD”, or “to know” appear 12 times—more than any other time in the book of I Samuel.

5. Jonathon finally reasserts his loyalty to David in v. 4-”Whatever you say, I will do for you”.

-David, reassured of Jonathon’s loyalty, then unveils a plan.

-Understand, at this point, Jonathon is still torn between loyalty to his father and loyalty to his friend.

II. The Plan

A. David’s plan to help Jonathon “know” the reality of the situation. (vv. 5-7)

1. The plan centers around the monthly celebrations of the new moon.

-the celebration rituals were set forth in Numbers 28:11-14.

-burnt offering of animals and grain, drink offering (libation), sin offering.

-trumpets and celebration to remind the people “I am the Lord your God”. (Numbers 10:10).

2. David informs Jonathon that he, David, has been invited to attend the monthly celebration at Saul’s court. (v. 5)

-the “I” David uses throughout v. 5 is an emphatic use, it seems that he is surprised to have been invited. Apparently this has not

happened before?

-If this is the case, David obviously has reason to be on his guard.

-notice that even in his extremity, David is still obedient to the chain of command-”Let me go” v. 5.

3. Cover story—David has to go to Bethlehem because not only is this the monthly celebration, it is also coincides w/ an annual celebration. (v. 6).

The annual celebration would have been held at Shiloh at the tabernacle during Samuel’s boyhood (I Samuel 1:3), but Shiloh had been destroyed by the Philistines when Eli was judge and Samuel was prophet. (I Samuel 4:1- 11).

Asaph’s account of these events at Ps. 78:56- 64 seems to indicate that the tabernacle itself might have been destroyed.

-Bottom line, there would have been nothing unusual for the clan to hold this celebration in the environs of Bethlehem because there was no central location to hold it. So, David’s story is entirely plausible.

-notice that these people don’t view themselves in terms of a nation yet, but in terms of clans and tribes. This will continue to be a pattern that plagues their political solidarity until David and Solomon fully unite the kingdom. Don’t think of these people as a kingdom, or a nation-state at this point. (SCB)

4. The key to the plan is Saul’s response to the message that David has gone to celebrate with his tribe. (vv. 6-7).

-if Saul has no problem w/ David’s absence for the reason stated, “it will be well with your servant” (notice the form of address—David is still loyal).

-but, if he is angry, David’s version of events holds water.

Jonathon will follow the plan to a “T”, even embellishing a little to make the excuse even more plausible. (vv. 28-29—”brother commanded”).

5. Throughout this passage there is a play on words

sa’al= “asked permission”, “asked leave”vv. 6,28

pun---Saul

6. David is risking Saul’s wrath—Bethlehem is outside of Saul’s power base in the north. Is David trying to provoke Saul into an outburst so that Jonathon will see what is really going on?

-If so, it worked. Jonathon will soon realize the cold facts.

B. The Covenant Between Jonathon and David(vv. 8-17)

1. In v. 8 David reminds Jonathon of their covenant relationship and asks him to demonstrate covenant loyalty

hesed=“kindness”=rights and duties/obligations between allies.

-”if I am guilty, then kill me yourself”! Who to trust? David is truly conflicted at this point.

2. Jonathon reassures David, “would I not tell you” if Saul intended to harm you, David. (v. 9)

Literally-”If I knew at all”/”If I had the least inkling”

3. David is still wary-”who will tell me if Saul answers you roughly/harshly” (v. 10)

Jonathon—”Let’s go into the field for some privacy, no one can hear us there. There will be no ‘ears’ to worry about” (v. 11)

-Notice that from here on Jonathon takes the lead in the conversation. Reassuring David.

-once they have walked for a period of time, Jonathon reasserts, in the strongest terms possible (“the Lord God of Israel be a witness”) his loyalty to David. (v. 12)

4. Jonathon’s oath-promise, curse and request

a. Promise-vv. 12-13

-I will sound out Saul. If he is well disposed toward you, I will confirm it to you. If he means you harm, I will warn you.

b. curse- v.13

-if I don’t warn you of a threat, “the Lord do so to Jonathon and more” if I don’t follow through on my promise to warn you.

“Whatever Saul has planned for you falls on me if I don’t follow through as promised.”

c. The request- vv. 14-17

-”If I am alive, show me the hesed Yhwh that I may not die; but if I die, do not cut off your hesed from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth”.

hesed Yhwh= kindness like that of God-an expression of the closeness of the bond between the friends.

-”house”=family

-” . . . when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David . . . .”

Implication—”David, if you are correct, and my father intends to harm you, then he is your enemy. AND, I know that the Lord is protecting you and will destroy your enemies-which now include my father, by your report. Swear that you will not visit your vengeance for my father’s wrongdoing on me and my family”.

Political implications/political reality in ancient Middle East- Persians, Alexander the Great, Assyrians/Babylonians, etc.

- Jonathon then “seals” the covenant with the house of David by calling on God to literally “demand an accounting for the shedding of innocent blood from the hand of David’s enemies”. (v. 16)

-the covenant being reciprocal, Jonathon has David reaffirm his side of the agreement in the context of covenant language. (v. 17)

D. Jonathon’s plan to communicate w/ David (vv. 18-23)

1. Remember, David knows that Saul wants to kill him. He is going along with the plan so the Jonathon can see the truth.

2. Jonathon starts by echoing David’s plan in v. 5 as to time and place. He agrees that David will be missed because of his empty seat.

3. After a 3rd day, David will move to the stone heap, or the stone known as “Ezel”, where he hid when this whole drama began. (v. 19)

4. Jonathon then sets out the signal. He will shoot arrows at the rock. If he tells the servant “the arrows on are this side of you [David]”, then David is safe. This is what Jonathon anticipates will happen. (v. 21)

-If, however, Jonathon says “they are beyond you”, then David’s story has been confirmed and he needs to flee. (v. 22)

5. This portion of the story closes with Jonathon reiterating their covenant promises. He invokes the Lord as a witness to their promises to one another. (“the Lord is between you and me forever”). v. 23.

III. The Plan Unfolds (vv. 24-34)

A. David is absent from Saul’s New Moon celebration, and pursuant to plan hides in field. (v. 24).

1. Saul in his seat, Jonathon in his seat, Abner in his seat—no David. You can almost feel the tension.

2. Saul notices the absence, but on the first day attributes it to some ceremonial uncleanness (v.25)

Saul mumbles to himself . . .”He is not clean; surely he is not clean” . See him rocking back and forth? David was right.

B. After the second day’s absence, Saul’s temper fuse goes off.

1. First, he insults David, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal”.

-as used in this context, “son of” is not merely an identifier.

-”the little kid”/ “snot-nosed brat” [SCB], see also use of “son of Kish” to refer to Saul in I Samuel 10:11 and “sons of Zeruiah” to refer to Joab and Abishai in II Samuel 16:10.

-Saul is just getting started w/ insults.

2. In vv. 28-29 Jonathon parrots David’s excuse and then gets a little dig in based on word play.

-David would rather gather with his humble family in Bethlehem (bet lahem) than coming “to the king’s table” [lahem=meal].

-Saul’s tone must have been snide and Jonathon responds in kind.

Now, Saul explodes in v. 30!

3. Jonathon and David become indistinguishable to Saul and he explodes in a profanity-laced tirade.

-the ESV’s “son of a perverse, rebellious woman” is a euphemistic translation of a vulgar statement. Worst language possible.

-closer to the original, but still acceptable in polite company would be “you son of a rebellious slut”, (English-rhymes w/ “witch”)

-”you have chosen David over me”+ “shame of your mother”=incestuous relations w/ your mother. (See Leviticus 18:7)

C. Then Saul drops the bombshell in vv. 31-34.

1. “As long as he lives, your dynasty will fail”!

2. “Bring him to me because he is a ‘son of death’”, or “one who deserves to die” (ESV=“he shall surely die”).

3. Jonathon’s response, naturally is “WHY-WHAT HAS HE DONE TO YOU!”. Reminder that David has been a loyal servant whose actions benefitted Saul at all times.

Saul then flings his spear at David’s surrogate—his own son Jonathon! No more proof needed.

4. Now Jonathon flies into a rage—

fierce anger= highest level of disappointed human fury.

Same emotion expressed by Pharaoh to Moses and Aaron after the death of his first-born in Exodus 11:8, “Go!--------serve your God!”. In v. 11, Moses and Aaron were “driven out” of Pharaoh’s presence.

-The next night there are two empty seats at the New Moon celebration.

IV. David and Jonathon Separated (vv. 35-42)

A. Vv. 35-40 outlines the fulfillment of the plan Jonathon and David spelled out in vv. 18-22.

1. David hides behind the stone Ezel and Jonathon shoots the arrows, and shouts the confusing commands to the servant boy that are really intended as warnings to David.

2. Jonathon sends the boy back to town in the hopes of having a private conversation with David.

B. The parting (vv. 41-42)

1. David bows three times—symbolic of Jonathon’s covenant superiority.

2. Jonathon’s “Go in peace” is a usual form of address of superior to inferior.

3. Then, Jonathon addresses David w/ an emphatic, magnanimous “we” to remind him of their mutual vows of everlasting friendship.

-Jonathon treats David as an equal.

With the exception of a brief meeting in 23:16-18, this is the last time the two friends will be together.

TAKEAWAYS

1. The Bible is very, very realistic as literature (but obviously much more than just literature). It paints a picture of Saul as maniacal and vulgar here. The tension in vv. 26-30 could be cut with a knife. The exchange between David and Jonathon at the conclusion is truly poignant.

2. God has now removed another support from David—the support of a good friend. God is forcing David more and more to rely on Himself alone.