Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 20

Verse 1

iniquity. Hebrew ` avah. App-44 . sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

my life = my soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . "Me" emphatic.

Verse 2

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 3

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

thy soul = thou. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

step = stride. Hebrew. pesa `. O cc. only here.

Verse 5

should not fail to sit . Septuagint reads "shall not sit". unto the third day at even. Septuagint reads "until the evening". Compare 1 Samuel 20:12 .

Verse 7

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

Verse 12

O LORD God of Israel . Syriac reads "Jehovah, God of Israel, [be] witness that I will sound", &c.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 13

as = according as.

Verse 15

the face of . Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 .

Verse 16

made = solemnised.

Verse 17

And Jonathan caused David to swear again . Septuagint reads "And again Jonathan sware unto David". soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 19

when the business was in hand : i.e. the day when Jonathan arranged for David to overhear Saul's murderous intention (1 Samuel 19:2 , 1 Samuel 19:3 ), and when Jonathan devoted himself to the business of David's safety.

stone Ezel . Septuagint reads "the side of this mound".

Verse 24

meat. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all kinds of food.

Verse 26

not any thing : i.e. "nothing [concerning David's absence] that day ".

Verse 30

Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman = a son of rebellious perversity: i.e. a rebel like David. Compare note on 1 Samuel 18:19 .

Verse 31

shall surely die = the son of death: i.e. doomed to die.

Verse 40

artillery = weapons. Word extended from Latin. ars = art. The oldest art was ploughing, but the chief weapon in the art of war has usurped to itself this word.

Verse 41

out of a place toward the south . Sept, reads "from beside the mound": i, e. Ezel, in 1 Samuel 20:19 .