Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 20:8
Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
8. thou hast brought, &c.] The initiative had been on Jonathan’s side (1Sa 18:3). David calls their league of friendship “a covenant of Jehovah” as being ratified in His name by solemn oath. See 1Sa 20:12 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. If there be in me iniquity] If thou seest that I am plotting either against the state, or the life of thy father, then slay me thyself.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant, in giving me timely notice, and a true account of Sauls disposition and intention towards me.
A covenant of the Lord, i.e. a solemn covenant, not lightly undertaken, but seriously entered into, in the name and fear of God, and in his presence, calling him to be the witness of our sincerity therein, and the avenger of perfidiousness in him that breaks it.
Slay me thyself; I am contented thou shouldst kill me.
Why shouldest thou bring me to thy father? why shouldst thou betray me to thy father, by concealing his evil intentions from me?
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Therefore thou shall deal kindly with thy servant,…. By informing him how his father’s mind stood affected to him, that he might conduct himself accordingly, either by appearing at court, or by providing for his safety by flight:
for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee; a covenant of friendship between Jonathan and David, of which Jonathan was the first mover, and so is said to bring or persuade him into it; called the covenant of the Lord, because made in his name and fear, and before him as a witness of it; and this David pleads as an argument with Jonathan, to deal kindly and faithfully by him in the present case:
notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself: or pass sentence upon him to be slain; which, if guilty, he might have power to do in his father’s absence, and which David desires might be done, notwithstanding the covenant of friendship between them, should he appear to deserve it by any action of his, of which he was not conscious; this expresses the strong sense he had of his own integrity, and served to confirm Jonathan in his opinion of it;
for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father? deliver him up into his hands to be put to a cruel death by him, or give him the trouble of doing it, when he might as well dispatch him at once.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) A covenant of the Lord with thee.It may at first sight seem strange that we have these last meetings of David and Jonathan told us in such detailthe speakers very words quoted, and so many apparently trivial circumstances related.
The question, too, might be asked: Whence did the compiler of the book derive his intimate acquaintance with what took place at these meetings, when David was alone with Jonathan? But the difficulties are only surface ones, for we must never forget how intensely interesting to the chosen people were all the circumstances connected with their loved kings lifenever lose sight of the deathless interest with which they would hear and read the particulars of Davids rise through great suffering and long trial to the throne; and this period here related in such detail was the turning-point of a grand career. From this moment, Davids way diverged from the every-day life of ordinary duty and prosperity, and became, during a long and weary period, for him the way of almost uninterrupted suffering. The way of suffering and of trial is in all ages the royal road to true greatness. As to the source whence the compiler of the book derived his knowledge of what passed at these last meetings of the two friends, Ewald suggests that when in after years David drew to his Court the posterity of Jonathan, he often told them himself of these last events before their separation (events with which no one but the two friends could be acquainted).
Slay me thyself.This supposes that Jonathan had the right to inflict capital punishment for crimes against his father as king.Lange. This was Davids last earnest request to the prince. If Jonathan felt there was any truth in the charges brought against him by Saulif he deemed his friend a traitor to the reigning dynastylet him slay the betrayer himself there and then.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(8) Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
The reference to this covenant is very interesting, because the covenant of the Lord, as it is called; included the engagements which are in Christ, the promised seed in the Covenant.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 20:8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
Ver. 8. Into a covenant of the Lord. ] Who is witness to the bargain, and keepeth the bands.
Slay me thyself.
For why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
a Phaedra, apud Sen.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
deal kindly: Gen 24:49, Gen 47:29, Jos 2:14, Rth 1:8, Pro 3:3
thou hast: 1Sa 20:16, 1Sa 18:3, 1Sa 23:18
if there be: Jos 22:22, 2Sa 14:32, Psa 7:4, Psa 7:5, Act 25:11
why shouldest: 1Ch 12:17, Psa 116:11
Reciprocal: 1Sa 20:31 – send 1Sa 22:8 – that my son 1Sa 29:8 – But what have 2Sa 21:7 – because Psa 7:3 – if I
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 20:8. Thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant In giving me timely notice, and a true account of Sauls disposition and intention toward me. A covenant of the Lord That is, a solemn covenant, not lightly undertaken, but seriously entered into, in the name and fear of God, and in his presence, calling him to be the witness of our sincerity therein, and the avenger of perfidiousness in him that breaks it. Slay me I am contented thou shouldest kill me. For why Why shouldest thou betray me to thy father, by concealing his evil intentions from me?