1 Samuel 20:40

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.

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) "vasa sua", Montanus; "instrumenta sua", Piscator; "arma sua", V. L. Tigurine version.

Verses 40-42. - His artillery. I.e. his weapons. To get rid of the boy Jonathan sends him home with his bow and arrows, and then David arose out of a place toward the south, or "from the south side" of the stone Ezel, and while not forgetting in his repeated obeisance the honour due to Jonathan's dignity, yet friendship prevailed, and they kissed one another and wept sore, until David exceeded , i.e. broke down, and was completely mastered by his grief. And so they parted, David to begin a life of danger and wandering, while Jonathan returned to the city to be a dutiful son to Saul. Phillipson remarks, "The scenes in this chapter are some of the most affecting presented to us in history, whether in old or modern times, and we may Well wonder at the delicacy of feeling and the gentleness of the sentiments which these two men in those old rough times entertained for one another. No ancient writer has set before us so noble an example of a heart felt, unselfish, and thoroughly human state of feeling, and none has described friendship with such entire truth in all its relations, and with such complete and profound knowledge of the human heart." 1 Samuel 20:40

40 . his artillery ] i.e. his bow and quiver. From Lat. ars , used in late Latin to mean ‘an implement,’ came the late Latin artillaria , and O. Fr. artillerie , ‘machines or equipment of war.’ The word was used of missile weapons long before the invention of gunpowder. See Bible Word-Book , p. 37.

40. Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad—that is, his missive weapons. The French word artillerie, signifies "archery." The term is still used in England, in the designation of the "artillery company of London," the association of archers, though they have long disused bows and arrows. Jonathan's boy being despatched out of the way, the friends enjoyed the satisfaction of a final meeting.

To the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness; men will conclude, that thy mother was a whore, and thou a bastard; and that thou hast no royal blood in thy veins, that canst so tamely give up thy crown to so contemptible a person. 1 Samuel 20:31 Thus he grossly mistakes the cause of Jonathan’s loss of the kingdom, which was not David’s art, but Saul’s sin; and vainly endeavours to prevent God’s irrevocable sentence. 1 Samuel 20:32 No text from Poole on this verse. ## 1 Samuel 20:33 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. ## 1 Samuel 20:34 Or, and because ; for this is a second cause of his grief. The conjunction and is ofttimes omitted, and to be supplied; as Psa_33:2 144:9 Hab_3:11. ## 1 Samuel 20:35 In the morning, to wit, of the third day, appointed, for this work, 1Sa_20:5. 1 Samuel 20:36 No text from Poole on this verse. ## 1 Samuel 20:37 To the place, i.e. near to the place. Or, and the lad went , or was going on to the place ; for the words following show the he was not yet come thither. The Hebrew verb bo , which properly signifies to come , sometimes signifies to go ; as here, and Rth_3:7 Jon_1:3. ## 1 Samuel 20:38 Haste, stay not; so he bids him, because finding the coast clear, he made haste to take the opportunity-to speak with his dearly beloved David. 1 Samuel 20:39 No text from Poole on this verse. ## 1 Samuel 20:40 His artillery; his bow, and arrows, and quiver.