Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 20:11
And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
11 23. David and Jonathan renew their covenant
11. into the field ] To escape observation they leave the city, in which the conversation has been held hitherto.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 11. Come, and let us go out into the field] In answer to David’s question, he now shows him how he shall convey this intelligence to him.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Lest they should be overheard.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. Jonathan said to David, Come,let us go into the fieldThe private dialogue, which is heredetailed at full length, presents a most beautiful exhibition ofthese two amiable and noble-minded friends. Jonathan was led, in thecircumstances, to be the chief speaker. The strength of hisattachment, his pure disinterestedness, his warm piety, hisinvocation to God (consisting of a prayer and a solemn oathcombined), the calm and full expression he gave of his convictionthat his own family were, by the divine will, to be disinherited, andDavid elevated to the possession of the throne, the covenant enteredinto with David on behalf of his descendants, and the imprecation(1Sa 20:16) denounced on any ofthem who should violate his part of the conditions, the reiterationof this covenant on both sides (1Sa20:17) to make it indissolubleall this indicates such a powerof mutual affection, such magnetic attractiveness in the character ofDavid, such susceptibility and elevation of feeling in the heart ofJonathan, that this interview for dramatic interest and moral beautystands unrivalled in the records of human friendship.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jonathan said unto David, come, and let us go out into the field,…. That they might more fully, and freely, and familiarly talk of this affair between them, without any danger of being overheard by the servants of Saul, as they were in his palace, where they now were:
and they went out both of them into the field; which belonged to Gibeah.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
David and Jonathan Renew Covenant, vs. 11-23
At this point Jonathan took over the planning. When he had gone with David into the field he proposed his plan, beginning with a renewal of the covenant and oath they had formerly made with each other. He swore the Israelite’s most stringent oath, by his own life, to be required of him by the Lord if he should fail to keep it. By his oath Jonathan promised to inform David of his father, Saul’s intent whether good or evil.
As Jonathan proceeded it became apparent once more that he fully expected David to be king of Israel and seems happy in it. He prayed the blessing of the Lord on David as the Lord had blessed his father, for the Lord had blessed Saul abundantly so long as he was in the Lord’s way. But Jonathan could also foresee possible trying times for his own family before David should become king. With his father in opposition, Jonathan would be caught in the middle, and his family could suffer at the hands of a succeeding’ king who might feel it necessary to exterminate the members of the rejected king’s house.
Therefore, Jonathan required David to swear that he would treat Jonathan kindly while he yet lived and also that he would befriend Jonathan’s descendants for ever. At some future time when David had overcome all his enemies he was asked to remember Jonathan’s friendship. The reference of Jonathan’s great love for David certainly seems to imply the great respect Jonathan had for the Lord and thus for the man the Lord had chosen to be king instead of his father.
So the plan for informing David of Saul’s intentions toward him were formulated. Jonathan mentioned the fact that David’s seat would be empty at the king’s table on the next day, when according to protocol he should be there. There is a lesson here for God’s people who are expected to be in their places in the Lord’s service at appointed times. Three days were to elapse to find out Saul’s intentions, after which David should proceed to the stone of Ezel, where he had previously hidden. Jonathan would come with a boy, pretending to be practicing his archery. He would shoot arrows and send the boy for them. If he should say to the boy, “The arrows are to your side,” it would mean that all was well. But if Jonathan said, “The arrows are beyond thee,” David should hastily flee, for the Lord was sending him away from harm’s danger. As for the covenant between them, Jonathan said, “The Lord be between thee and me,” or that the Lord watch over both.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Jonathans Plan: 1Sa. 20:11-23
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 show 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 show 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 show 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 Davids 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, Tomorrow 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 not 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.
9.
What is the meaning of Jonathans prayer? 1Sa. 20:12-13
As Jonathan and David went into the field, Jonathan prayed to the Lord God of Israel. He asked God to do evil to him if he did not tell David the outcome of the matter. His prayer was really a vow. It was a solemn oath taken before the Lord that he would sound out his father and then tell David. If, for any reason, Jonathan failed to bring word to David, he prayed that God would smite him.
10.
What was the house of David? 1Sa. 20:16
As yet David had no family. The covenant which Jonathan made with David was looking into the future to a time when David would have heirs. The covenant which Jonathan and David made was not only between themselves personally, but it was to be binding upon their descendants. It was a promise that neither family would turn upon the other. Such a covenant was needed because regal families quite often exterminated each other. One family coming to the throne would customarily seek out all the members of the other royal house and attempt to exterminate them. By doing this they would dispose of any threat which might be made to their claims to the throne.
11.
Where was the stone Ezel? 1Sa. 20:19
The spot is lost to present-day archaeologists, but it was evidently near Ramah in Benjamin. The stone would have marked the field and spot where David was to hide. This would make it possible for Jonathan to come back to the area and be certain that he was in the vicinity of Davids hiding place.
12.
How would the shooting of arrows be a sign to David? 1Sa. 20:20-23
The signal was arranged so that David would know the outcome of Jonathans inquiry without any direct conversation. If Jonathan shot arrows into the field, and then said to the lad who was to fetch the arrows that the arrows were beyond the boy, then David would know that he was to get up and flee. If Jonathan shot the arrows and then said to the lad who was fetching them that the arrows were between Jonathan and the lad, David would know that it was safe for him to come out of hiding. David was then to get up from his hiding place and come back with the boy and the arrows to Jonathan. Should Jonathan be followed into the field, there would be no danger to anybody concerned. If Saul were still threatening Davids life, the boy would run on and get the arrows. He would bring them back to Jonathan and they would return to Gibeah. After they had gone David would get up and flee. If Saul were favorably inclined towards David, David could listen for the signal and then get up and come back with all in a friendly and amiable atmosphere.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
11. Come and let us go out into the field There to fix upon some signal by which David might learn the result of Jonathan’s interview with his father.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 20:11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
Ver. 11. Come, and let us go out into the field. ] Where we may be private, and consider of some means of intercourse.