1 Samuel 20:14-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:9-23

Here, I. Jonathan protests his fidelity to David in his distress. Notwithstanding the strong confidence David had in Jonathan, yet, because he might have some reason to fear that his father's influence, and his own interest, should make him warp, or grow cool towards him, Jonathan thought it requisite solemnly to renew the professions of his friendship to him (1 Sam. 20:9): ?Far be it from thee to think that I suspect thee of any crime for which I should either slay thee myself or deliver thee... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:14

And thou shalt not only, while yet I live, show me the kindness of the Lord ,.... Such kindness as is well pleasing in the sight of God, and imitate what he shows to men, and which was covenanted, promised, and agreed to in the presence of the Lord, when David and Jonathan entered into covenant with each other; this Jonathan did not doubt of, and therefore did not make this a request: that I die not ; he had no fear nor dread on his mind, should David come to the throne while he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:15

But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever ,.... His family should partake of it as well as himself: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David, everyone from the face of the earth ; Saul and his sons, and everyone that should oppose his settlement in the kingdom: Jonathan's meaning is, that the covenant between them should not be only between them personally, but include their posterity, as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:16

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David ,.... Not with David himself only, which was now renewed, but with his family also: saying , let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies ; take vengeance on Jonathan, or on any of his posterity, should they break this covenant, by showing themselves enemies to David, and his crown; and, on the other hand, also on David, and his posterity, should they not show kindness to Jonathan and his seed, according to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:17

And Jonathan caused David to swear again ,.... Or Jonathan added to make David swears F21 ויסף "et addidit", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so the Tigurine version. ; having sworn himself to make a covenant of friendship with David and his family, he moved and insisted on it, that David should swear to keep covenant with him, and his family: because he loved him ; it was not so much for the good and safety of his offspring that he made this motion, and was so desirous of renewing... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:14

Show me the kindness of the Lord - When thou comest to the kingdom, if I am alive, thou shalt show kindness to me, and thou shalt continue that kindness to my family after me. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:11-23

The spring of self-sacrifice. The facts are— 1 . Jonathan and David retire from observation to confer further. 2 . Jonathan undertakes to do all that David requires, and solemnly pledges himself to let him know the mind of Saul. 3 . He pleads with David, in prospect of his elevation to power, that he and his house may receive mercy. 4 . In his eagerness he seeks a renewal of David's promise. 5 . They then arrange that, after consulting with Saul, an arrow before or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:14-15

The construction of this passage is very difficult if we retain the three negatives of the Masoretic text; but most commentators, following the reading of the Syriac as regards at least one of them, consider that the Masorites have been mistaken in the vowels which they have attached to the consonants (see on 1 Samuel 1:7 ). Read with other vowels, two of these negatives become interjections of desire— O that ; and the whole may be translated, "And O that, while I still live, yea, O... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:16

This verse also is very difficult, hut it is probably to be taken as an insertion of the narrator: "So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David"—that is, so as to bind his descendants—"saying, Let Jehovah require it at the hand of David's enemies." These last words probably are a euphemism, and mean David himself. So Rashi explains the words. The courtesy of an Oriental forbade his saying, May Jehovah punish David for it, but he prays that God would requite it on some one. But if the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:17

Jonathan caused David to swear again. So strong was his conviction in David's future kingdom, and his wish that there should be an unbroken bond of love between the two families, that he makes David solemnly repeat his promise. The Septuagint and Vulgate, by altering the vowels, read, "And Jonathan sware again to David." At first sight this interpretation seems most in accordance with the reason given for the renewal of the oath, namely, Jonathan's own love; but the Masoretic text agrees... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:9-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:14

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:11-23

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:14-15

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:17

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