Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 20:9
And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
9. Far be it from thee ] i.e. Do not suppose that I could either slay thee myself or give thee up to my father. The same phrase is rendered “God forbid” in 1Sa 20:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Far be it from thee; I abhor the thoughts of either killing thee myself, or giving thee up to my father to slay thee.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Jonathan said, far be it from thee,…. To entertain such a thought of me, or to have the least suspicion of me, that I should conceal my father’s ill intentions against thee, if known to me;
for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would I not tell it thee? certainly I would; canst thou doubt of my kindness and fidelity? surely thou hast no reason, when such a covenant of friendship subsists between us, and there has not been the least breach of it on either side.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Jonathan’s Covenant with David. | B. C. 1058. |
9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? 10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? 11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; 13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. 19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. 20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth. 22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. 23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
Here, I. Jonathan protests his fidelity to David in his distress. Notwithstanding the strong confidence David had in Jonathan, yet, because he might have some reason to fear that his father’s influence, and his own interest, should make him warp, or grow cool towards him, Jonathan thought it requisite solemnly to renew the professions of his friendship to him (v. 9): “Far be it from thee to think that I suspect thee of any crime for which I should either slay thee myself or deliver thee to my father; no, if thou hast any jealousy of that, Come let us go into the field (v. 11), and talk it over more fully.” He did not challenge him to the field to fight him for an affront, but to fix him in his friendship. He faithfully promised him that he would let him know how, upon trial, he found his father affected towards him, and would make the matter neither better nor worse than it was. “If there be good towards thee, I will show it thee, that thou mayest be easy (v. 12), if evil, I will send thee away, that thou mayest be safe” (v. 13); and thus he would help to deliver him from the evil if it were real and from the fear of evil if it were but imaginary. For the confirmation of his promise he appeals to God, 1. As a witness (v. 12): “O Lord God of Israel, thou knowest I mean sincerely, and think as I speak.” The strength of his passion made the manner of his speaking concise and abrupt. 2. As a judge: “The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan (v. 13), if I speak deceitfully, or break my word with my friend.” He expressed himself thus solemnly that David might be abundantly assured of his sincerity. And thus God has confirmed his promises to us, that we might have strong consolation,Heb 6:17; Heb 6:18. Jonathan adds to his protestations his hearty prayers: “The Lord be with thee, to protect and prosper thee, as he has been formerly with my father, though now he has withdrawn.” Thus he imitates his belief that David would be in his father’s place, and his good wishes that he might prosper in it better than his father now did.
II. He provides for the entail of the covenant of friendship with David upon his posterity, v. 14-16. He engages David to be a friend to his family when he was gone (v. 15): Thou shalt promise that thou wilt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever. This he spoke from a natural affection he had to his children, whom he desired it might go well with after his decease, and for whose future welfare he desired to improve his present interest. It also intimates his firm belief of David’s advancement, and that it would be in the power of his hand to do a kindness or unkindness to his seed; for, in process of time, the Lord would cut off his enemies, Saul himself was not expected; then “Do not thou cut off thy kindness from my house, nor revenge my father’s wrongs upon my children.” The house of David must likewise be bound to the house of Jonathan from generation to generation; he made a covenant (v. 16) with the house of David. Note, True friends cannot but covet to transmit to theirs after them their mutual affections. Thy own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not. This kindness, 1. He calls the kindness of the Lord, because it is such kindness as God shows to those he takes into covenant with himself; for he is a God to them and to their seed; they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 2. He secures it by an imprecation (v. 16): The Lord require it at the hand of David’s seed (for of David himself he had no suspicion) if they prove so far David’s enemies as to deal wrongfully with the posterity of Jonathan, David’s friend. He feared lest David, or some of his, should hereafter be tempted, for the clearing and confirming of their title to the throne, to do by his seed as Abimelech had done by the sons of Gideon (Judg. ix. 5), and this he would effectually prevent; but the reason given (v. 17) why Jonathan was so earnest to have the friendship entailed is purely generous, and has nothing of self in it; it was because he loved him as he loved his own soul, and therefore desired that he and his might be beloved by him. David, though now in disgrace at court and in distress, was as amiable in the eyes of Jonathan as ever he had been, and he loved him never the less for his father’s hating him, so pure were the principles on which his friendship was built. Having himself sworn to David, he caused David to swear to him, and (as we read it) to swear again, which David consented to (for he that bears an honest mind does not startle at assurances), to swear by his love to him, which he looked upon as a sacred thing. Jonathan’s heart was so much upon it that, when they parted this time, he concluded with a solemn appeal to God: The Lord be between me and thee for ever (v. 23), that is, “God himself be judge between us and our families for ever, if on either side this league of friendship be violated.” It was in remembrance of this covenant that David was kind to Mephibosheth, 2Sa 9:7; 2Sa 21:7. It will be a kindness to ourselves and ours to secure an interest in those whom God favours and to make his friends ours.
III. He settles the method of intelligence, and by what signs and tokens he would give him notice how his father stood affected towards him. David would be missed the first day, or at least the second day, of the new moon, and would be enquired after, v. 18. On the third day, by which time he would have returned from Bethlehem, he must be at such a place (v. 19), and Jonathan would come towards that place with his bow and arrows to shoot for diversion (v. 20), would send his lad to fetch his arrows, and, if they were shot short of the lad, David must take it for a signal of safety, and not be afraid to show his head (v. 21); but, if he shot beyond the lad, it was a signal of danger, and he must shift for his safety, v. 22. This expedient he fixed lest he should not have the opportunity, which yet it proved he had, of talking with David, and making the report by word of mouth.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
(9) Far be it from thee.Vulg., absit hoc a te. This strong expression bears emphatic testimony to Jonathans implicit belief in his loved friends stainless loyalty. He indignantly refuses to take his life, or even to allow that life to be touched by his father. The sentences here are broken ones; the next one following is left, in the Hebrew, incomplete. They betoken the agitation and deep feeling of the chivalrous, indignant speaker.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(9) And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? (10) Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? (11) And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. (12) And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; (13) The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. (14) And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: (15) But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house forever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David everyone from the face of the earth. (16) So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. (17) And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Nothing can be more engaging, to interest the Reader in behalf of Jonathan, than what is here related of him. Though it should seem, he knew that David would be his father’s successor in the kingdom; yet there is no jealousy on his part. His love for David threw all other considerations to the ground. He only desired that David would show kindness to his house. And amidst all the unpromising circumstances about David, his faith seemed now to be getting up again. But here, my soul, let Jonathan teach thee another lesson. Did he look forward to the period of David’s exaltation, amidst all the obstacles which seemed at this time to quench the hopes of it, and cause David to promise mercy to his family, when things were so discouraging; and wilt thou not depend upon the promises of thy Jesus, who is purposely exalted at the right hand of power, to prepare sure happiness for all his people? Shall Jonathan’s faith in David’s prospects of preferment, be so sanguine as to take an oath from him, for a blessing in it; and wilt thou doubt the word, the promise, the oath of thy God and Father in Christ Jesus? Oh! for faith to believe the record which God hath given of his dear Son. 1Jn 5:11 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 20:9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
Ver. 9. That evil were determined by my father. ] The Vulgate rendereth it, completam esse malitiam patris mei contra re, that my father were so malicious as to murder thee.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
then would: 1Sa 20:38, 1Sa 20:42, 1Sa 19:2
Reciprocal: 1Sa 19:3 – what I see 1Sa 20:7 – evil 1Sa 25:17 – evil Est 7:7 – for he saw
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 20:9-13. Jonathan said, Far be it from thee Or, rather, Far be this away; for Jonathan is speaking of himself in this thing. Then said David, Who shall tell me? Who shall bring me advice how matters stand? They went out both into the field To take their measures about this matter. Jonathan said, O Lord God of Israel Do thou hear and judge between us. These first words of the sentence seem to be an exclamation, or an abrupt speech, not usual in great passions, and the rest are as if he had said, Shall I, who love thee so much, be thought capable of breaking my word with thee? In all these verses the words are broken, concise, and interrupted: as the words of lovers are wont to be, especially when they are disturbed. But there are a tenderness and sincerity in this exclamation of Jonathan which are scarcely to be equalled. If there be good toward thee I will show it thee, that thou mayest be easy. If it please my father to do thee evil I will send thee away, that thou mayest be safe. Thus he would help to deliver him from evil if it were real, and from the fear of evil if it were but imaginary. The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan If I speak deceitfully, or break my word with my friend: he expresseth himself thus solemnly that David might be fully assured of his sincerity. And thus God has confirmed his promises to us, that we might have strong consolation, Heb 6:17-18. The Lord be with thee And protect and prosper thee. Thus, to his protestations, Jonathan adds his hearty prayers for David. As he hath been with my father Formerly, though now he be withdrawn. This intimates his belief that David would be in his fathers place, and his desire that he might prosper in it better than his father now did.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were {e} determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
(e) That he were fully determined.