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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:35

And it came to pass in the morning :,.... The next morning, the morning of the third day of the month: that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David ; he went to the place in the field, or near it, where David hid himself, and at the time agreed between them; which, Abarbinel says, was the time the nobles agreed on for walking, and motion, and for hunting, and casting of arrows, so that Jonathan could go forth without suspicion: and a little lad with him ; to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:36

And he said unto his lad, run, find out now the arrows which I shoot ,.... He no doubt told him the mark which he should shoot at, the stone Ezel, and bid him look out about that for them: and as the lad ran ; before he had got to the mark: he shot an arrow beyond him : or it; beyond the lad, or beyond the mark he shot at; purposely shooting with great strength, that he might exceed, and thereby give notice to David how things stood, which was the sign agreed on. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:37

And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot ,.... To the mark which he told him he should shoot at, and whereabout he might expect to find the arrow: Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, is not the arrow beyond thee ? he cried with a loud voice and said this, not so much that the lad might hear him, but that David, who lay hid near the place, might hear him; so that if they had no opportunity of seeing and conversing with each other through any person... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:38

And Jonathan cried after the lad, make speed, haste, stay not ,.... But bring the arrows to him directly, that he might dismiss him; for, observing that no man was passing by, he was desirous of embracing the opportunity for a few minutes to have an interview with David alone before he fled: and Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows ; for though the textual reading is singular, the marginal is plural, to show, as Kimchi observes, that he cast three arrows, as he said he would, 1 Samuel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:39

But the lad knew not anything ,.... What was meant by shooting the arrows, and by shooting them beyond where he was, and by bidding him make haste to bring them: only Jonathan and David knew the matter ; what was signified by them, those being signs agreed upon between them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:20

I will shoot three arrows - Jonathan intended that David should stay at the stone Ezel, where probably there was some kind of cave, or hiding place; that, to prevent all suspicion, he would not go to him himself, but take his servant into the fields, and pretend to be exercising himself in archery; that he would shoot three arrows, the better to cover his design; and that, if he should say to his servant, who went to bring back the arrows, "The arrows are on this side of thee," this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:25

The king sat upon his seat - It seems that there was one table for Saul, Jonathan, David, and Abner; Saul having the chief seat, that next to the wall. As only four sat at this table, the absence of any one would soon be noticed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:29

Our family hath a sacrifice - Such sacrifices were undoubtedly festal ones; the beasts slain for the occasion were first offered to God, and their blood poured out before him; afterwards all that were bidden to the feast ate of the flesh. This was a family entertainment, at the commencement of which God was peculiarly honored. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:30

Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman - This clause is variously translated and understood. The Hebrew might be translated, Son of an unjust rebellion; that is, "Thou art a rebel against thy own father." The Vulgate, Fili mulieris virum ultro rapientis ; "Son of the woman who, of her own accord, forces the man." The Septuagint is equally curious, Υἱε κορασιων αυτομολουντων ; "Son of the damsels who came of their own accord." Were these the meaning of the Hebrew, then the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:34

Jonathan arose - in fierce anger - We should probably understand this rather of Jonathan's grief than of his anger, the latter clause explaining the former: for he was grieved for David. He was grieved for his father - he was grieved for his friend. read more

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