1 Samuel 20:39

But bring the arrows to him directly, that he might dismiss him; for, observing that no man was passing by, he was desirous of embracing the opportunity for a few minutes to have an interview with David alone before he fled: and Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows; for though the textual reading is singular, the marginal is plural, to show, as Kimchi observes, that he cast three arrows, as he said he would, 1 Samuel 20:20; and came to his master; with them. 1 Samuel 20:39 Ver. 39. But the lad knew not anything,.... What was meant by shooting the arrows, and by shooting them beyond where he was, and by bidding him make haste to bring them: only Jonathan and David knew the matter; what was signified by them, those being signs agreed upon between them. 1 Samuel 20:40 Ver. 40. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad,.... "His vessels" {l} or instruments; his arms, as the Targum, his quiver, bow, and arrows: and said unto him, go, carry [them] to the city; to Gibeah, to Jonathan's house, or to his apartments at court there. {l} wylk ta "vasa sua", Montanus; "instrumenta sua", Piscator; "arma sua", V. L. Tigurine version. 1 Samuel 20:41 Ver. 41. [And] as soon as the lad was gone,....

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. 2 Samuel 20:1 INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 20 This chapter gives an account of a new rebellion raised by Sheba, 2 Samuel 20:1; of David's shutting up his concubines unto the day of their death, whom Absalom had lain with, 2 Samuel 20:3; of Amasa being ordered to assemble the men of Judah to crush the rebellion, but being dilatory, Abishai is sent out with David's servants, and was followed by Joab with the men under him, 2 Samuel 20:4; and of the murder of Amasa by Joab, 2 Samuel 20:8; and of Sheba being shut up in the city Abel, 2 Samuel 20:14; whose head, by the means of a wise woman, was delivered to Joab, and so an end was put to the rebellion, 2 Samuel 20:16; and, lastly, of the chief officers in David's camp and court, 2 Samuel 20:23. Ver. 1. And there happened to be a man of Belial,....

20:35-42 The separation of two such faithful friends was grievous to both, but David's case was the more deplorable, for David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary. Christians need not sorrow, as men without hope; but being one with Christ, they are one with each other, and will meet in his presence ere long, to part no more; to meet where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes.

When the boy came to the place of the shot arrow (i.e., to the place to which the arrow had flown), Jonathan called after him, "See, the arrow is (lies) away from thee, farther off;" and again, "Quickly, haste, do not stand still," that he might not see David, who was somewhere near; and the boy picked up the arrow and came to his lord. The Chethibh החצי is evidently the original reading, and the singular is to be understood as in 1 Samuel 20:37 ; the Keri החצּים is an emendation, according to the meaning of the words. The writer here introduces the remark in 1 Samuel 20:39 , that the boy knew nothing of what had been arranged between Jonathan and David.

They are not un-frequently found apart. Thus ‘As the Lord liveth’ occurs alone in Jdg 8:19 ; Ruth 3:13 ; 1 Samuel 14:39 &c., and ‘As thy soul liveth’ in 1 Samuel 1:26 ; 1 Samuel 17:55 ; 2 Samuel 14:19 &c. Beside the places in this chapter the double form is found in 1 Samuel 20:3 ; 1 Samuel 25:26 and is expressive of the most intense earnestness. Elisha’s master may be withdrawn from him: he will not be withdrawn from his master.