1 Samuel 20

5 the new moon. A sacrifice and feast took place every new moon (see Numb. x. 10; xxviii. 11), and on such occasions David was accustomed to join the king’s family.

10. Who shall tell me, etc.? Rather, “Who shall tell me if perchance thy father,” etc.? (R.V.).

12. O Lord God of Israel. Rather, “The Eternal the God of Israel, be witness. When I have,” etc. (see R.V.). The sentence, broken by the violence of Jonathan’s feelings, requires the inserted words.

16. Let the Lord even require it, etc. This seems to mean, “I pray God to deal with David’s enemies as with my own.”

19 when thou hast, etc. Rather, “on the third day thou shalt come down quickly.” Another spy like Doeg (xxi. 7), might be on the watch.

20. I will shoot, etc. These signals were agreed upon in case they should be unable to have a private interview.

26 he is not clean. Supposing that his absence from the sacrificial feast was caused by some ceremonial defilement.

30. Thou son, etc. It is a common practice among Eastern nations to express resentment against a person by abusing his parents, especially his mother, though without any personal ill-feeling towards them.

40 his artillery. Rather, as in xxi. 8, “his weapons” (R.V.).

42. Jonathan went into the city. The friends appear never to have met after this, except once by stealth in a wood (xxiii. 16).