1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

80 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionJonathan assured David that he had done nothing wrong (cf. 14:45), but Jonathan did notappreciate the intensity of Saul's hatred for David (cf. 19:6). He was in a state of denial.There are several oaths and strong affirmations in this chapter (vv. 3, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23,42). The one that David made in verse 3 is very strong. He believed correctly that he wasin mortal danger, and he tried to make Jonathan see this. Jonathan was open to anythingDavid wanted to suggest to prove his point (v. 4).The new moon introduced the new month that the Israelites celebrated with a sacrificialmeal. It was both a religious and a civil holiday (Num. 10:10; 28:11-15; cf. 2 Kings4:23). David would normally have been present at the king's table since he was one ofSaul's high-ranking military commanders. However, David evidently believed that Saulwould try to kill him again if he ate with the king. Hiding in a field seems to be anextreme measure. Why could David not have gone home to Bethlehem or stayed withfriends who would have kept his presence secret from Saul? Perhaps David trusted noone but Jonathan now.Apparently David's family held a reunion on one of these holidays each year (v. 6; cf.1:21; 2:19). David told a lie; he did not go to Bethlehem but hid in a field. At thebeginning of his period of flight from Saul, David resorted to trickery as well as trust inYahweh. As this trial wore on, he learned to trust God more completely, as we shall see.His trials purified his character (cf. James 1).David proposed his test (v. 7) to convince Jonathan that Saul really intended to killDavid. The covenant to which David referred was the one he and Jonathan hadpreviously made (18:3-4). David appealed to it and asked Jonathan to kill him himself ifhe must die rather than allowing Saul to do it. David wanted to die at the hand of hisfriend rather than at the hand of his enemy. David had temporarily lost sight of God'spromise that he would rule over Israel.Jonathan refused to kill David but promised to tell him if Saul responded with hostility asDavid predicted he would (v. 9). Jonathan then suggested a plan by which he couldcommunicate with David without revealing David's location (vv. 10-11).Jonathan and David's long-range covenant 20:12-17Jonathan appealed to the Lord in an oath indicating the seriousness of the situation (vv.12, 13). He prayed that God would be with David as he had been with Saul, namely, asIsrael's king (v. 13). These verses indicate clearly that Jonathan believed David wouldsomeday be king and subdue his enemies including Saul (vv. 13-15; cf. 13:14). He hadcome to appreciate Yahweh's loyal love (Heb. hesed, vv. 14, 15) and now called onDavid to deal similarly with his descendants in the future. He secured a promise fromDavid that when he reigned he would protect Jonathan's family. "Lovingkindness" (Heb.hesed, vv. 14, 15) is a covenant term of commitment (v. 16, 42; cf. Deut. 7:7-9).Previously David and Jonathan had made a covenant that Jonathan would yield the throneto David and support him (18:3-4). Now David promised not to kill Jonathan'sdescendants after David became king. It was common in the ancient Near East for kingswho began a new dynasty to kill all the descendants of the former king to keep them from