Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
1 Kings (1 Samuel) Chapter 20
Overview
Sa1 20:1, David consults with Jonathan for his safety; Sa1 20:11, Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath; Sa1 20:18, Jonathan's token to David; Sa1 20:24, Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan; Sa1 20:35, Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David.
fled: Sa1 19:19-24, Sa1 23:26-28; Psa 124:6-8; Pe2 2:9
What have: Sa1 12:3, Sa1 24:11, Sa1 24:17; Psa 7:3-5, Psa 18:20-24; Co2 1:12; Jo1 3:21
God forbid: Sa1 14:45; Gen 44:7; Jos 22:29, Jos 24:16; Luk 20:16
show it me: Heb. uncover mine ear, Sa1 20:12, Sa1 9:15 *marg. Psa 40:6; Isa 50:5; Joh 15:15, Joh 17:8
sware: Deu 6:13; Jer 4:2; Heb 6:16
but truly: Sa1 25:26, Sa1 27:1; Sa2 15:21; Kg2 2:2, Kg2 2:4, Kg2 2:6
as thy soul: Sa1 1:26, Sa1 17:55; Jer 38:16
but a step: Sa1 27:1; Deu 28:66; Psa 116:3; Co1 15:30, Co1 15:31; Co2 1:9, Co2 1:10
Whatsoever: etc. or, Say what is thy mind, and I will do, etc
desireth: Heb. speaketh, or thinketh
the new moon: The months of the Hebrews were lunar months, and they reckoned from one new moon to another. and, as their feasts, particularly the passover, were reckoned according to this, they were very scrupulous in observing the first appearance of each new moon. On these new moons, they offered sacrifices, and feasted together, but the gathering together of all the families of a tribe on such occasions seems to have taken place only once in the year. Sa1 20:6; Num 10:10, Num 28:11; Kg2 4:23; Psa 81:3; Col 2:16
that I may: Sa1 20:19, Sa1 19:2; Psa 55:12; Pro 22:3; Joh 8:59; Act 17:14
Bethlehem: Sa1 17:58; Joh 7:42
sacrifice: or, feast, Sa1 9:12, Sa1 16:2-5
It is well: Deu 1:23; Sa2 17:4
evil: Sa1 20:9, Sa1 25:17; Est 7:7
deal kindly: Gen 24:49, Gen 47:29; Jos 2:14; Rut 1:8; Pro 3:3
thou hast: Sa1 20:16, Sa1 18:3, Sa1 23:18
if there be: Jos 22:22; Sa2 14:32; Psa 7:4, Psa 7:5; Act 25:11
why shouldest: Ch1 12:17; Psa 116:11
then would: Sa1 20:38, Sa1 20:42, Sa1 19:2
answer thee: Sa1 20:30-34, Sa1 25:10, Sa1 25:14, Sa1 25:17; Gen 42:7, Gen 42:30; Kg1 12:13; Pro 18:23
O Lord: This verse is evidently deficient. The LXX have Κυριος ο Θεος Ισραηλ οιδεν, "The Lord God of Israel doth know;" the Syraic and Arabic, "The Lord God of Israel is witness;" either of which makes good sense. But two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts supply the word chai, "liveth;" and the text reads thus: "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, when I have sounded my father - if there be good unto David, and I then send not unto thee," etc.; which is a still better sense. Jos 22:22; Job 31:4; Psa 17:3, Psa 139:1-4
sounded: Heb. searched, Pro 20:5, Pro 25:2, Pro 25:3
show it thee: Heb. uncover thine ear, Sa1 20:2
The Lord do: Sa1 3:17, Sa1 25:22; Rut 1:17; Sa2 3:35, Sa2 19:13; Kg1 19:2, Kg1 20:10
the Lord be: Sa1 17:37; Jos 1:5; Ch1 22:11, Ch1 22:16; Mat 28:20; Phi 4:9
he hath been with my father: Sa1 10:7, Sa1 11:6-13, Sa1 14:47; Sa2 7:15
the kindness: Sa2 9:3; Eph 5:1, Eph 5:2
thou shalt: Sa1 24:21; Sa2 9:1-7, Sa2 21:7
made: Heb. cut, Sa1 18:3; Gen 15:18
Let the Lord: Sa1 25:22, Sa1 31:2; Sa2 4:7, Sa2 4:8, Sa2 21:8
because he loved him: or, by his love toward him
for he loved: Sa1 18:1, Sa1 18:3; Deu 13:6; Sa2 1:26; Pro 18:24
new moon: Sa1 20:5
and thou shalt: Among the forms of salutation and compliment used in Persia, one was, according to my mode of notation in italics, Ja i shama khali bud pish yaran, signifying, Thy place or seat was empty among thy friends. This phrase, or the greater part of it, was frequently addressed to myself when coming into a circle of Persian acquaintances, after an absence of several days or weeks. It reminded me of a passage in the First book of Samuel (Sa1 20:18). And thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And again, David's place was empty." Sir W. Ouseley's Travels, vol i. preface, p.16.
empty: Heb. missed
quickly: or, diligently, Heb. greatly
hide thyself: Sa1 20:5, Sa1 19:2
when the business: Heb. in the day of the business
Ezel: or, that sheweth the way.
no: Heb. not any thing
as the: Jer 4:2, Jer 5:2, Jer 12:16; Amo 8:14
the matter: Sa1 20:14, Sa1 20:15
the Lord: Sa1 20:42; Gen 16:5, Gen 31:50
the king: Psa 50:16-21; Pro 4:17, Pro 15:17, Pro 17:1, Pro 21:3, Pro 21:27; Isa 1:11-15; Zac 7:6; Joh 18:28
as at other times: Jdg 16:20
he is not clean: Lev 7:21, Lev 11:24, Lev 11:27, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:40, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:16, Lev 15:17, Lev 15:19-21; Num 19:16
Wherefore: Sa1 18:11, Sa1 19:9, Sa1 19:10, Sa1 19:15
the son: Sa1 22:7-9, Sa1 22:13, Sa1 22:14, Sa1 25:10; Isa 11:1, Isa 11:2; Mat 13:55; Pe1 2:4
my brother: Sa1 17:28
Saul's: Job 5:2; Pro 14:29, Pro 19:12, Pro 19:19, Pro 21:24, Pro 25:28, Pro 27:3; Jam 1:19, Jam 1:20
Thou: etc. or, Thou perverse rebel, Heb. Son of perverse rebellion, Pro 15:2, Pro 21:24; Mat 5:22; Eph 4:31, Eph 6:4
and unto the: This reflection on the mother of Jonathan, by the passionate monarch, reflects more dishonour on himself than on his brave and noble minded son. Mungo Park gives an instance of the prevalence of the same principles in Africa; for he says, "Maternal affection is every where conspicuous among the Africans, and creates a correspondent return of tenderness in the child. 'Strike me,' said my attendant, 'but do not curse my mother.' I found the same sentiment to prevail universally in all parts of Africa." King Saul, unable to villify Jonathan to his own satisfaction by personal reproaches, outstepped the ordinary abuse of his day, and proceeded to that which was designed to produce unusual vexation, and vented the bitterness of his mind by maligning the character of his own wife and Jonathan's mother.
send: Sa1 20:8, Sa1 19:6, Sa1 19:11-15
shall surely die: Heb. is the son of death, Sa1 26:16; Sa2 19:28; Psa 79:11 *marg.
Wherefore: Sa1 19:5; Pro 24:11, Pro 24:12, Pro 31:8, Pro 31:9; Joh 7:51
what hath: Mat 27:23; Luk 23:22, cast, Sa1 18:11, Sa1 19:10, Sa1 19:11; Pro 22:24; Ecc 9:3; Jer 17:9, whereby, Sa1 20:7; Ecc 7:9
he was grieved: Mar 3:5
at the time: Sa1 20:19; Sa2 20:5
beyond him: Heb. to pass over him, Sa1 20:21, Sa1 20:22
Psa 55:6-9; Pro 6:4, Pro 6:5; Mat 24:16-18; Mar 13:14-16; Luk 17:31, Luk 17:32
artillery: Heb. instruments, Rather weapons, as the word kelim also denotes; and here means the bow, quiver, and arrows. This is probably the only place in our language in which the word artillery is not applied to cannon or ordinance, but simply to weapons of war.
his lad: Heb. the lad that was his
and fell: Sa1 25:23; Gen 43:28; Sa2 9:6
and they kissed: Sa1 10:1; Gen 29:11, Gen 29:13, Gen 45:15; Sa2 19:39; Act 20:37
David exceeded: Sa1 18:3; Sa2 1:26
Go in peace: Sa1 20:22, Sa1 1:17; Num 6:26; Luk 7:50; Act 16:36
forasmuch as: or, the Lord be witness of that which, etc. Sa1 20:23
And he arose: Sa1 23:18; The separation of two such faithful friends was equally grievous to them both, but David's case was the more deplorable. for when Jonathan was returning to his family and friends, David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary, and therefore his grief exceeded Jonathan's; or, perhaps it was because his temper was more tender and his passions stronger. They referred each other to the covenant of friendship that was between them, both of them being comforted thereby in this very mournful separation - "We have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, for ourselves and our heirs, that we and they will be faithful and kind to each other from generation to generation.