1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 81rising up and trying to reclaim the throne. Jonathan called on God to require anaccounting for antagonism at the hands of David's enemies (v. 16). This was the secondvow that David had made after the one in which he pledged his love for Jonathanpersonally (v. 17; cf. 18:3-4).The plan for communicating Saul's intentions to David 20:18-23Saul would miss David at his feast not only because his seat would be vacant but becausewarriors normally expressed their support for their king by eating with him at importantmeals (v. 18). David's absence would have raised a question in Saul's mind about David'scommitment to him. The writer did not identify the exact place where David hadpreviously hidden himself on some eventful day (v. 19). Evidently it was near the stoneEzel, a site unknown today but well known then. Probably Jonathan chose this place tocommunicate with David because it was convenient and secure, evidently near Gibeah.The shooting of arrows was probably just a practical way to signal David. Jonathanreminded David of their agreement as they parted (v. 23; cf. Gen. 31:48-53). 247"Friendships are one of the most enriching of life's experiences: how pooris the man or woman who is friendless! Friends enrich life because theygive, without counting the cost. Jonathan was a man who gave to Davidmore than he received; and in doing so he showed how different he wasfrom the typical king described in 8:11-17, whose sole function was totake. Life has its givers and its takers; Jonathan was supremely a giver—and David, though destined to become a king, persistently declined to takeanything away from Saul. He patiently waited for God to give him thecrown of Israel." 248Saul's anger over David's absence 20:24-34Saul concluded at first that David had not come to the new moon sacrificial meal becausehe was unclean (cf. Lev. 7:20-21; 15:16). His continued absence required an explanation,which Saul looked to David's friend to provide. Saul hated David so much he could notbring himself to use his name (vv. 27, 31). "The son of . . ." was a mild insult (cf.10:11). 249 By insulting Jonathan's mother Saul was intensifying his insult (v. 30). Today'sEnglish Version translated Saul's epithet, "You bastard!" The New Jerusalem Biblerendered it, "You son of a rebellious slut!" The note in the NET Bible says, "You stupidson of a bitch!" Jonathan had chosen David as his friend to his own shame (v. 30) in thesense that because he had made him his friend, rather than killing him as Saul wantedhim to do, David would take Jonathan's place as the king of Israel. That would be ashame for Jonathan. Jonathan had chosen David to the shame of his mother's nakednessin that Jonathan's conception and birth were useless if David replaced him. Jonathan247 For discussion of a minor textual problem in verse 23, see Emunah Finkelstein, "An IgnoredHaplography in Samuel," Journal of Semitic Studies 4:4 (October 1959):356-57.248 David Payne, p. 106.249 Youngblood, p. 723.