1 Samuel 20:41 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:35-42

Here is, 1. Jonathan's faithful performance of his promise to give David notice of the success of his dangerous experiment. He went at the time and to the place appointed (1 Sam. 20:35), within sight of which he knew David lay hid, sent his footboy to fetch his arrows, which he would shoot at random (1 Sam. 20:36), and gave David the fatal signal by shooting an arrow beyond the lad (1 Sam. 20:37): Isa. not the arrow beyond thee? That word [beyond] David knew the meaning of better than the lad.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:41

And as soon as the lad was gone ,.... Which David could observe from his lurking place: David arose out of a place toward the south ; to the south of the field in which he was hid, or to the south of the stone Ezel, near which he was; and so the Targum,"and David arose from the side of the stone Atha, which was towards the south;'Jonathan shooting his arrows to the north of it, lest the lad should have discovered David when he ran for them: and fell on his face to the ground; in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 20:41

Until David exceeded - David's distress must, in the nature of things, be the greatest. Besides his friend Jonathan, whom he was now about to lose for ever, he lost his wife, relatives, country; and, what was most afflictive, the altars of his God, and the ordinances of religion. Saul saw David's growing popularity, and was convinced of his own maladministration. He did not humble himself before God, and therefore became a prey to envy, pride, jealousy, cruelty, and every other... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:35-42

Warning in danger. The facts are— 1 . In accordance with arrangement, Jonathan, on the next day, goes out into the field, and, on shooting the arrow beyond the lad with him, he cries out the signal of danger. 2 . David recognises the sign, and the lad is sent away to the city. 3 . Thereupon David and Jonathan embrace each other, and take a sorrowful farewell—Jonathan giving him his benediction, and reminding him for his comfort of the sacred covenant between them both. A... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:40-42

His artillery. I.e. his weapons. To get rid of the boy Jonathan sends him home with his bow and arrows, and then David arose out of a place toward the south, or "from the south side" of the stone Ezel, and while not forgetting in his repeated obeisance the honour due to Jonathan's dignity, yet friendship prevailed, and they kissed one another and wept sore, until David exceeded , i.e. broke down, and was completely mastered by his grief. And so they parted, David to begin a life of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 20:41

A place toward the south - An unintelligible description; one expects a repetition of the description of David’s hiding-place in 1 Samuel 20:19. The Septuagint in both places has “argab,” a word meaning a “heap of stones.” If this be the true reading, David’s hiding-place was either a natural cavernous rock which was called “Argab,” or some ruin of an ancient building, equally suited for a hiding-place.Bowed himself three times - In token, doubtless, of his unshaken loyalty to Jonathan as the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 20:41

1 Samuel 20:41. And fell on his face to the ground, &c. After three bows, he fell on his face; out of reverence to Jonathan, as the king’s son, and in tenderness to him, as his most generous friend. They kissed one another, and wept one with another Nothing can be imagined more generous, and, at the same time, more soft and moving, than this meeting of these two friends. Jonathan seems, out of tenderness to David, to have suppressed some part of his grief. But David, who reflected... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 20:1-42

20:1-31:13 SAUL’S PURSUIT OF DAVIDJonathan helps David escape (20:1-42)Apparently Jonathan did not know of the number of attempts that his father had made to kill David (20:1-2). When he saw that David was genuinely fearful, he agreed to co-operate with David in finding out Saul’s real intentions once and for all (3-9).Jonathan’s love for David was genuine. Even though he knew that David, and not he, would be the next king, he showed no sign of jealousy. He asked only that David, on becoming... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 20:41

out of a place toward the south . Sept, reads "from beside the mound": i, e. Ezel, in 1 Samuel 20:19 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 20:41

1 Samuel 20:41. David arose out of a place, &c.— David, coming from the south, fell on his face. Houbigant. From the south of the stone Ezel. David fell on his face, in reverence to his friend, as the king's son. They kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. So that there was great lamentation. Houbigant. Their separation could not be made without many tears on both sides. David must have been affected in an especial manner. He lost all: friend, wife, parents,... read more