Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 20:5
And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow [is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at even.
5. the new moon ] The New Moon or first day of the lunar month was celebrated with special sacrifices and blowing of trumpets. See Num 28:11-15; Num 10:10; Psa 81:3. It was observed as a day of rest (Amo 8:5), and apparently used as an opportunity for religious instruction (2Ki 4:23).
to sit with the king at meat ] To join as a member of the royal household in the sacrificial feast ( 1Sa 20:24) which lasted for two days at least ( 1Sa 20:27).
let me go ] As the sequel proved, the plan was well devised for ascertaining whether the lesson of Naioth had wrought any change in Saul, or whether in his sane moments he was now deliberately resolved to kill David.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The new moon, or beginning of each month, was celebrated with especial sacrifices and blowing of trumpets (marginal references.) The feast was kept with great solemnity as a day of gladness, and we may presume that the peace offerings offered on the occasion furnished the tables of those that offered.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. To-morrow is the new moon] The months of the Hebrews were lunar months, and they reckoned from new moon to new moon. And as their other feasts, particularly the passover, were reckoned according to this, they were very scrupulous in observing the first appearance of each new moon. On these new moons they offered sacrifices, and had a feast; as we learn from Nu 10:10; Nu 28:11. And we may suppose that the families, on such occasions, sacrificed and feasted together. To this David seems to refer; but the gathering together all the families of a whole tribe seems to have taken place only once in the year. There is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family, 1Sa 20:6.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The new moon was a solemn and festival time, as among the Romans and other heathens, so also with the Hebrews, who solemnized it with offering peace-offerings to God, and feasting together upon the remainders of it, after the manner. See Num 10:10; 28:11; Psa 81:3.
I should not fail to sit with the king at meat; then he useth to expect my company above other times.
Unto the third day, i.e. unto the next day but one after the new moon; as appears by comparing 1Sa 20:19,27,35. His meaning is not that he should hide himself in any certain place all the three days, but that he should secure himself, either at Bethlehem with his friends, or in any other place, till the third day.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. David said unto Jonathan, Behold,to-morrow the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king atmeatThe beginning of a new month or moon was always celebratedby special sacrifices, followed by feasting, at which the head of afamily expected all its members to be present. David, both as theking’s son-in-law and a distinguished courtier, dined on suchoccasions at the royal table, and from its being generally known thatDavid had returned to Gibeah, his presence in the palace would benaturally expected. This occasion was chosen by the two friends fortesting the king’s state of feeling. As a suitable pretext forDavid’s absence, it was arranged that he should visit his family atBeth-lehem, and thus create an opportunity of ascertaining how hisnon-appearance would be viewed. The time and place were fixed forJonathan reporting to David; but as circumstances might renderanother interview unsafe, it was deemed expedient to communicate by aconcerted signal.
1Sa20:11-23. THEIRCOVENANT RENEWEDBY OATH.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And David said unto Jonathan,…. Moved that the following method might be taken as a trial of the disposition of Saul’s mind towards David:
behold, tomorrow [is] the new moon; the first day of the month, which was kept solemnly with burnt offerings and peace offerings, see
Nu 10:10. Some say r this feast was not kept for the new moon, but because it was the day of the feast of trumpets or the first day of the new year, which fell together on that day; the calends, or first day of the month, was with the Heathens sacred to deity s, in imitation of the Jews:
and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat; it had been usual for him at such a time to sit at table with the king; next to him, as Jarchi interprets it, either as his son-in-law, or as one of his princes; the custom being for the king, and his family and nobles, to eat together on that day upon the peace offerings; and it was the duty of David to attend at that time, and it might be expected he would:
but let me go; he asked [leave] of Jonathan, who had power in his father’s absence to grant it, he not being yet returned from Naioth:
that I may hide myself in the fields, unto the third [day] at even; or until the time of the evening of the third day, as the Targum, which was the evening of the second day of the month; for that was the third from that evening they were discoursing together, as Ben Gersom observes; the fields he proposed to hide himself in were near to Gibeah, and he doubtless meant some cave in those fields, where he might be, and not be seen by men; though it cannot be thought that he remained, or proposed to remain, in such a place during that time, where he would be in want of food, but that he would abide incognito among his friends somewhere or another, until the festival was over.
r Weemse’s Expos. Ceremon. Law, c. 22. p. 100, 101. s Macrob. Saturnal. l. 1. c. 15. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 3. c. 18. in fine.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) The new moon.On the religious ceremonies connected with the day of the new moon at the beginning of each month, see the Mosaic enactments in Num. 10:10; Num. 28:11-15.
At the court of Saul the feast seems to have been carefully observed, doubtless with the blast of trumpets, and with solemn burnt offerings and sin offerings, for we notice in this narrative that the plea of possible ceremonial uncleanness was at once accepted as an excuse for absence. (See 1Sa. 20:26.)
The sacrificial and ceremonial rites were accompanied by a state and family banquet, at which David, as the kings son-in-law, and also as holding a high post in the royal army, was expected to be present.
Jonathan persisted in looking upon his fathers later designs against the life of David as simply frenzied acts, incident upon his distressing malady, and evidently believed that after his strange seizure at Ramah he would return, and treat David with the confidence of old days when he met him at the feast of the new moon. David, however, believed otherwise, and was convinced, to use his own expressive words, that there was but a step between him and death. He would not trust himself, therefore, to Sauls hands until his friend had made the experiment he suggested.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. To-morrow is the new moon The beginning of the Jewish month, when, according to the law, (Num 28:11,) all Israel was to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord. It was Saul’s custom to hold also at this time a civil festival, at which his chief officers were expected to be present.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 20:5. To-morrow is the new moon Every new moon they offered sacrifices, which were accompanied with a solemn feast. Num 10:10; Num 28:11. David being one of the king’s family, by marrying his daughter, used to eat with him at these festival times. He thought that, notwithstanding what had passed, Saul possibly might be conciliated towards him by the Spirit of God coming upon him at Naioth, and that this might be a favourable opportunity of discovering his disposition. “Instead therefore (says he to Jonathan) of imprudently exposing myself to new dangers, I will absent myself till the third day at even, and so give you an opportunity of observing Saul’s mind.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(5) And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. (6) If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. (7) If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
The feast of the new moon was a solemn ordinance in the church, and observed in Israel with great solemnity. In pious families, it should seem by what is said of Jesse’s household, these services were much attended to. Job’s was of this kind. And was it not with an eye to Jesus, as a feast upon a sacrifice? The sacrifice was to be once offered. But the precious effects of it were to be continually eyed in solemn remembrance. Such is the ordinance of the Lord’s supper now. See Job 1:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 20:5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow [is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at even.
Ver. 5. Behold, tomorrow is the new moon. ] The first day of the month – the Hebrews reckoned their months by the moon – the Calends, which was a kind of a holy day, not only among the Jews, but the Greeks and Romans also, a in testimony of thankfulness for their time, which is the Lord’s: according to that of David, “The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.” Psa 74:16
Let me go, that I may hide myself
a Macrob., Sat., lib. i. cap. 16.
b Aug., De Verb. Apost. Serm. 21.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
should not fail to sit. Septuagint reads “shall not sit”. unto the third day at even. Septuagint reads “until the evening”. Compare 1Sa 20:12.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the new moon: The months of the Hebrews were lunar months, and they reckoned from one new moon to another: and, as their feasts, particularly the passover, were reckoned according to this, they were very scrupulous in observing the first appearance of each new moon. On these new moons, they offered sacrifices, and feasted together, but the gathering together of all the families of a tribe on such occasions seems to have taken place only once in the year. 1Sa 20:6, Num 10:10, Num 28:11, 2Ki 4:23, Psa 81:3, Col 2:16
that I may: 1Sa 20:19, 1Sa 19:2, Psa 55:12, Pro 22:3, Joh 8:59, Act 17:14
Reciprocal: 1Sa 20:18 – new moon
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow [is] the {c} new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at even.
(c) At what time there would be a solemn sacrifice, Num 28:11, to which they added peace offerings and feasts.