Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 20:33
And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
33. cast a javelin ] Or, as in 1Sa 18:11, lifted his spear: brandished it threateningly, without actually casting it.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To smite him, i. e. to wound him, though not to smite him even to the wall, as he designed to do to David, 1Sa 19:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
33. Saul cast a javelin at himThisis a sad proof of the maniacal frenzy into which the unhappy monarchwas transported.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him,…. So provoked to wrath was he by what he said. It seems by this that Saul always had a javelin or spear in his hand, which is to be accounted for by the custom of those times; in other countries, as well as in this, the kings used to carry spears in their hands instead of sceptres, and which they used as such; so Justin h, speaking of the times of Romulus, says, that kings in those times had spears, as an ensign of royalty, which the Greeks call sceptres; and so the Greeks called sceptres spears i:
whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David; for since he attempted to smite him, his own son, for speaking on his behalf, it might be well concluded, that such was his settled wrath and malice, that he would if possible kill David, could he get him into his hands.
h E Trogo, l. 43. c. 3. i Pausanias in Boeoticis, sive, l. 9. p. 859. Vid. Barthii Animadv. ad Claudian in nupt. Honor ver. 119.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
33. Jonathan knew that it was determined to slay David He had before been disposed to attribute his father’s acts of violence towards David to his madness, and the demon that at times possessed him; but now he is convinced that David’s suspicions of his bloody design (1Sa 20:3) are well founded, and he arose from the table in a wild tumult of passions, and the next morning, true to his word, he went forth to bid David fly.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 20:33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
Ver. 33. And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him. ] Which, if it had hit him, and killed him, Saul would have had as small joy of it as Alexander when he had killed Clitus in his passion, whom he would have revived, but could not, with his own heart’s blood.
“ Qui non moderabitur irae, &c. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Reciprocal: 1Sa 18:11 – cast the javelin 1Sa 19:10 – he slipped 1Sa 22:6 – spear 1Sa 22:17 – slay the priests 1Sa 25:17 – evil Psa 31:13 – while Psa 56:5 – all
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 20:33-34. Saul cast a javelin to smite him Saul seemed a moment before to be in great care, that Jonathan should be established in his kingdom: and now he himself aims at his life! What fools, what worse than savage beasts, does anger make men! Because Or, and because, &c., for this seems to be a second cause of his grief; his father had done him shame That is, had done shame, not to David, but Jonathan, by giving him such rough words, and throwing a javelin at him. It may, however, be understood of his fathers speaking so contemptuously of David.