1 Samuel 20:28

20:24-34 None were more constant than David in attending holy duties; nor had he been absent, but self-preservation obliged him to withdraw. In great peril present opportunities for Divine ordinances may be waved. But it is bad for us, except in case of necessity, to omit any opportunity of statedly attending on them. Jonathan did wisely and well for himself and family, to secure an interest in David, yet for this he is blamed. It is good to take God's people for our people. It will prove to our advantage at last, however it may now be thought against our interest. Saul was outrageous. What savage beasts, and worse, does anger make men!

And Jonathan answered Saul,.... In reply to Saul's question, and to excuse David, he said: David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem; his own city, his native place, where his family lived, whom he was desirous to see, and yet chose not to go without asking leave; and as Saul was not at home, he asked leave of Jonathan, who was next to him, and acted for him; and he was very pressing and importunate in his suit, and therefore Jonathan could not well deny him it; and he hoped this would ben sufficient excuse for his absence, especially when what follows should be observed.

27. on the morrow, which was the second day of the month—The time of the moon's appearance being uncertain—whether at midday, in the evening, or at midnight, the festival was extended over two days. Custom, not the law, had introduced this. Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse—The question was asked, as it were, casually, and with as great an air of indifference as he could assume. And Jonathan having replied that David had asked and obtained his permission to attend a family anniversary at Beth-lehem [Ac 20:28, 29], the pent-up passions of the king burst out in a most violent storm of rage and invective against his son.

But on the second day, the day after the new moon (lit., the morrow after the new moon, the second day: השּׁני is a nominative, and to be joined to ויהי, and not a genitive belonging to החדשׁ), when David was absent from table again, Saul said to Jonathan, "Why is the son of Jesse not come to meat, neither yesterday nor to-day?" Whereupon Jonathan answered, as arranged with David (compare 1 Samuel 20:28 and 1 Samuel 20:29 with 1 Samuel 20:6 ). "And my brother, he hath commanded me," i.e., ordered me to come. צוּה as in Exodus 6:13 , and אחי, the elder brother, who was then at the head of the family, and arranged the sacrificial meal.

Saul, unable to obtain any answer from God, applies to a witch at En-dor to bring up Samuel that he may converse with him on the issue of the war, 1 Samuel 28:3-11. Samuel appears, 1 Samuel 28:12-14. He reproaches Saul with his misconduct, and informs him of his approaching ruin, 1 Samuel 28:15-19. He is greatly distressed; but at the solicitations of the woman and his own servants, he takes some food, and departs the same night, 1 Samuel 28:20-25.

20 . for the loan which is lent ] Better as in the margin, in return for the petition which she asked for Jehovah : i.e. in place of Samuel, for whom she prayed in order to dedicate him to God. Cp. 1 Samuel 1:11 ; 1 Samuel 1:27-28 , and note on 1 Samuel 2:28 . unto their own home ] Lit., “to his (Elkanah’s) place.” Cp. Genesis 18:33 .

1 Samuel 28:3 . Now Samuel was dead, &c. — This was observed before, 1 Samuel 25:1 , but is repeated here again to show that Saul was now sensible of his loss, wanting his advice in a time of great distress. Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits — According to the divine command, Leviticus 20:27 , which perhaps he had executed in the beginning of his reign, when he was directed by Samuel.