1 Samuel 20:4

JONATHAN HELPS DAVID TO KNOW THE TRUTH

"Then said Jonathan to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you." David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. If your father misses me at all, then say, `David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.' If he says, `Good? it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him. Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, slay me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father"? And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you. If I knew that it was determined by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you"? Then said David to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly"? And Jonathan said to David, "Come let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field."

"Whatever you say, I will do for you" (1 Samuel 20:4). Jonathan reluctantly accepted David's word and offered to help in any way possible. David at once responded with a plan to ascertain the real situation between himself and Saul.

"Tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at the table with the king" (1 Samuel 20:5). The Jews, and many other ancient peoples, celebrated a feast of the new moon. Numbers 10:10 and Numbers 28:11-15 give the Mosaic instructions regarding that festival. Apparently, Saul used the occasion for a meeting of important members of his government. David was obligated to be there.

"If there is guilt in me, slay me yourself" (1 Samuel 20:8). David's word here meant that if Jonathan knew of any sin, guilt, or fault whatever on David's part that could possibly justify his execution, then David requests that Jonathan himself slay David rather than turning him over to the king.

"For you brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you" (1 Samuel 20:8). Jonathan himself had taken the lead in forming that sacred covenant with David.

"Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?" (1 Samuel 20:10). The private meeting between David and Jonathan here was possible only because Saul had not yet returned to his court from Ramah. The problem David mentioned here was simply that of how the result of the proposed test of Saul's attitude could be communicated to David when Saul got back in town. Jonathan had the answer; and made an immediate response.

"Come let us go out into the field. And so they both went out into the field." (1 Samuel 20:11). Critics affirm here that, "Jonathan's proposition that they should go out into the field where they would be free from observation contradicts the intent of the main narrative, namely, that it would be dangerous for them to be seen together going into the field."[5] This is totally in error. The author of it simply forgot, or never did understand, that Saul was not in town when this interview occurred. He had not yet recovered his clothes and returned from Ramah!

As Willis noted, "These events (of 1 Samuel 19-20) transpired over a relatively brief period, following the ostensible reconciliation between Saul and David in 1 Samuel 19:7."[6] This explains why Jonathan was slow to believe that David was in any danger. There was also another factor in Jonathan's incredulity regarding his father. "Filial attachment naturally blinded the prince to defects in the parental character."[7] "He also believed that his father would honor his oath that David should not be put to death."[8]

This trip of David to Saul's court in Gibeah was exceedingly dangerous; but in the circumstances it was absolutely necessary. "Saul's casting his spear at David (19:10) was during a state of madness in which Saul was not master of himself; and it could not be inferred with certainty that Saul would still plot against David's life."[9]