Yahweh do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father. You shall not only show me the loving kindness of Yahweh while I still live, that I not die; but you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth.” So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.” Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
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1 Samuel 20:13-17 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field. Jonathan said to David, “By Yahweh, the God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good toward David, won’t I then send to you, and disclose it to you? Yahweh do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father. You shall not only show me the loving kindness of Yahweh while I still live, that I not die; but you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth.” So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.” Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. When you have stayed three days, go down quickly, and come to the place where you hid yourself when this started, and remain by the stone Ezel. I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark. Behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ If I tell the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;’ then come; for there is peace to you and no danger, as Yahweh lives. But if I say this to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you;’ then go your way; for Yahweh has sent you away. Concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever.”
Parallel Translations
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Yahweh do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.
You shall not only show me the loving kindness of Yahweh while I still live, that I not die;
but you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth.”
So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
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The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Show all 3 translations
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The LORD do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; and the LORD be with thee, as He hath been with my father.
And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not;
but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.'
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: 'The LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.'
And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Cross-references (34)
- 2 Samuel 9:3 (v14) The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still…
- Proverbs 18:24 (v17) A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- 1 Samuel 25:22 (vv13, 16) God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him by the morning light so much as one who urinates on…
- Joshua 1:5 (v13) No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor…
- Ruth 1:17 (v13) Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”
Show all 32 cross-references
- 1 Samuel 17:37 (v13) David said, “Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this…
- 1 Chronicles 22:11 (v13) Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as he has spoken concerning you.
- 1 Chronicles 22:16 (v13) of the gold, the silver, the bronze, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and may Yahweh be with you.”
- 1 Samuel 18:3 (vv16–17) Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
- 1 Samuel 3:17 (v13) He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything…
- 1 Samuel 18:1 (v17) When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
- 2 Samuel 1:26 (v17) I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
- 2 Samuel 21:7 (v15) But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and…
- Ephesians 5:1-2 (v14) Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and…
- Genesis 15:18 (v16) In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great…
- Deuteronomy 13:6 (v17) If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul,…
- 1 Samuel 10:7 (v13) Let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do what is appropriate for the occasion; for God is with you.
- 1 Samuel 11:6-13 (v13) God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot. He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and…
- 1 Samuel 14:47 (v13) Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of…
- 1 Samuel 18:12 (v13) Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.
- 1 Samuel 24:21 (v15) Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my…
- 1 Samuel 31:2 (v16) The Philistines overtook Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
- 2 Samuel 3:35 (v13) All the people came to urge David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste…
- 2 Samuel 4:7-8 (v16) Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him, killed him, beheaded him, and took his head, and…
- 2 Samuel 7:15 (v13) but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
- 2 Samuel 9:1-7 (v15) David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” There was of Saul’s house a…
- 2 Samuel 19:13 (v13) Say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren’t captain of the army before me continually…
- 2 Samuel 21:8 (v16) But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal…
- 1 Kings 19:2 (v13) Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don’t make your life as the life of one of…
- 1 Kings 20:10 (v13) Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, “The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will be enough for handfuls for all the…
- Matthew 28:20 (v13) teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
- Philippians 4:9 (v13) The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
32 distinct cross-references across this passage (34 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv13–14 The Lord punish me most grievously.
The Lord punish me most grievously.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv13–17 1Sa 20:13 The LORD do so and much more…
1Sa 20:13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
Ver. 13. And the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.] Much joy mayest thou have of the kingdom after him; and the will of the Lord be done, whatever becometh of me. See 1Sa 23:17. Pellican therefore was mistaken in thinking that Jonathan’s affection was somewhat abated toward David while he thought of the succession of the kingdom; and that therefore he was so hard of belief that his father intended mischief toward him.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv13–17 The Lord give thee that honour and success in…
The Lord give thee that honour and success in all thy affairs which he hath given to my father. Jonathan undoubtedly knew of Samuel’s final and irrevocable sentence of Saul’s rejection from the kingdom, and of the substitution of some other person after God’s own heart in his stead; and that David was this person he might strongly suspect, (that which even Saul suspected,) both from his eminent piety, and wisdom, and valour, and universal worth, and from the great things which God had done, both by him and for him, in preserving and advancing him by such unusual methods; and it is most likely that Jonathan did ask David about it, and that David did faithfully inform him of the whole truth, as may be gathered both from the words here following, and from 1Sa 23:17. And that the knowledge hereof did not raise jealousy, and envy, and rage in him, who was the next heir of the crown, as it did in his father, must be ascribed to Jonathan’s piety towards God, to whose disposal he cheerfully submitted himself, and to his sincere friendship to David, in whose happiness he rejoiced as in his own.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv13–17 The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan,....…
The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan,.... Recompense evil more than can be thought of and expressed, should he neglect to inform David of the good disposition of Saul unto him:
but if it please my father to do thee evil; if he seems determined upon it to take away thy life:
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then I will show it thee; not by a messenger, by whom it would not be safe to communicate it, lest by that means Saul would know where he was, and come and slay him; but Jonathan would come himself, and acquaint him with it:
and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; give him leave, and advise him to depart, and provide for his own safety, adding his blessing on him, and prayer for him:
and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father; in the beginning of his reign, giving him counsel and advice in all things, and victory over his enemies, succeeding and prospering him in whatsoever he engaged in; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord be for thy help, &c.''
Jonathan seemed to be fully apprized that David was to succeed in the kingdom.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 17 Kindness as the Lord - That kindness to which…
Kindness as the Lord - That kindness to which thou hast engaged thyself, in the covenant sworn between thee and me in God's presence. I die not - That thou do not kill me or mine, as princes of another line use to kill the nearest relations of the former line, from whom the kingdom was translated to them.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv13–14 Verse 13. The Lord be with thee, as he…
Verse 13. The Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.] From this, and other passages here it is evident that Jonathan knew that the Lord had appointed David to the kingdom.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv14–16 1Sa 20:14. And thou shalt show me the kindness…
1Sa 20:14. And thou shalt show me the kindness of the Lord — That kindness to which thou hast engaged thyself, in the covenant sworn between thee and me in God’s presence. The words in the Hebrew run plainly thus: And wilt thou not, if I be then alive, (namely, when God had advanced David to the throne as he had done Saul,) wilt thou not show me the loving-kindness of the Lord? He made no doubt, but rather strongly affirmed his belief of it. That I die not — That thou do not kill me or mine, as princes of another line used to kill the nearest relations of the former line, from whom the kingdom was translated to them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v14 The general meaning is: Jonathan had a presentiment, doubtless…
The general meaning is: Jonathan had a presentiment, doubtless from God, that David would be established upon the throne. By God’s mercy he had the comfort, which he well deserved, of knowing that his own posterity would receive kindness at David’s hand (see the marginal references).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv13–16 Father, at the beginning of his reign. Jonathan foresees…
Father, at the beginning of his reign. Jonathan foresees that David will be his father’s successor. (Calmet) --- Hence he commends himself and family to his protection. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v13 13. The Lord be with thee, as he hath…
13. The Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father — These words, according to Keil, express the presentiment in Jonathan’s soul that David was yet to occupy the throne of Israel. This conviction is expressed more clearly in the next two verses. We may believe that Saul had now fully made up his mind that David was his rival for the throne; that he was the man after God’s own heart of whom Samuel had told him; and perhaps the fact that Samuel had anointed him at Beth-lehem was now generally known. Jonathan’s entering, with all these facts before him, into a solemn covenant with the house of David, and with no animosity, no jealousy, no harsh words, but still loving his rival as his own soul, is the most marvellous instance of human friendship and tenderness with which the records of our race acquaint us.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv13, 14, 16, 17 13. The Lord do so, &c.] See on 1Sa_3:17.
13. The Lord do so, &c.] See on 1Sa_3:17.
the Lord be with thee, &c.] Cp. 1Sa_18:12. Jonathan already foresees David’s destiny, as is clear from the following verses. See also 1Sa_23:17.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 17 (14) And thou shalt not only while yet I…
(14) And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not.—The Hebrew of this and the next verse is again very confused, abrupt, and ungrammatical, but this is evidently to be attributed to the violent emotion of the speaker. We have, doubtless (as above suggested). David’s own report of what took place, and the words of his dead friend had, no doubt, impressed themselves with a sad accuracy on his heart.
The Syriac and Arabic renderings have been followed by Maurer, Ewald, Keil, Lange, and others, who change v’lo (“and not”) in the first two clauses of 1Sa_20:14, into the interjection v’lu (and “O that,” or “would that”). They render them, “And mayest thou, if I still live, show to me the favour of the Lord, and if I die, not withdraw thy favour from my house for ever, not even when Jehovah shall cut off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth.”
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The last words, “when Jehovah shall cut off,” tells us with striking clearness how thoroughly convinced was Jonathan that in the end David’s cause, as the cause of their God, would surely triumph. Mournfully he looked on to his father’s downfall and his own (Jonathan’s) premature death; and in full view of this he bespoke the interest of his friend—though his friend would probably in a few hours become an exile and outlaw—on behalf of his own (Jonathan’s) children, who would, he foresaw, before many years had expired, be landless, homeless orphans.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv14, 16, 17 Vers. 14, 15. The construction of this passage is…
Vers. 14, 15. The construction of this passage is very difficult if we retain the three negatives of the Masoretic text; but most commentators, following the reading of the Syriac as regards at least one of them, consider that the Masorites have been mistaken in the vowels which they have attached to the consonants. (see on 1Sa_1:7) Read with other vowels, two of these negatives become interjections of desireO that; and the whole may be translated, "And O that, while I still live, yea, O that thou wouldst show me the kindness of Jehovah,i.e. great unfailing kindness, such as was that of Jehovah to Israel, that I die not, nor shalt thou cut off thy kindness from my house forever." It was the sanguinary custom in the East on a change of dynasty to put all the seed royal to death. (1Ki_15:29 1Ki_16:11, etc., and comp. 2Sa_19:28) As then Jonathan foresaw that it was Jehovah"s will to transfer the kingdom to David, he binds him by the memory of his own true love to him to show mercy to his race.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again because he…
1Sa_20:17
And Jonathan caused David to swear again because he loved him.
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Love plighting troth
I. Now, first, great love desires to bind itself to the beloved one. And, first of all, remember that Jesus bound Himself to His people by covenant bonds.
2. Then, next, Jesus would have us bound to Him on our part. This kind of bond can never be all on one side, for true friendship leads to mutual love.
II. Great love desires renewed pledges from its object: Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
1. It was not out, of distrust, but by reason of a sort of sacred jealousy, that Jonathan caused David to swear again. Our Saviour is as jealous of us as His Father is; the immeasurable greatness of the love of Jesus Christ to us moves Him to feel an infinite jealousy of us.
2. This is the only return we can make for His love.
3. It is for our highest benefit that we should do this. Our love is often so feeble and cold that it needs to be stirred up again.
4. We are often tempted and allured by other loves, and are apt, to lend a listening ear to the charmers fascinating voice.
5. It is for our benefit that we should often renew our pledges of love to our Lord, because we cannot be happy unless we are wholly taken up with love to Him. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
He loved him as he loved his own soul.
True friendship
I. true friendship reports itself by practical sympathy in times of distress.
1. This friendship was truly unselfish.
2. This friendship was truly generous. David was a shepherd boy, Jonathan the kings son.
3. This friendship was truly practical.
4. This friendship was truly reciprocal. David loved Jonathan as fervently as Jonathan loved David..
II. True friendship reports itself by solemn compacts in times of distress. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
1. This covenant was formed in a reverent spirit. Jonathan appeals to God to witness his sincerity, to judge his motive, and to prosper his friend.
2. This covenant was submitted to a severe test.
3. This covenant was confirmed by an affectionate parting. (J. T. Woodhouse.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv14, 17 General Information:
General Information:
Jonathan asks David not to completely kill all his offspring so that a remnant will remain.
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will you not show me the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh, that I may not die?
Jonathan asks this question to confirm that David will do this. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. AT: "please show me the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh, that I may not die" (See: Rhetorical Question)
show me the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh
The abstract noun "faithfulness" can be stated as "faithful." Possible meanings for "of Yahweh" are 1) "be faithful to me as Yahweh is faithful" or 2) "be faithful to me as Yahweh requires" (See: Abstract Nouns)
house of David
The word "house" is a metonym for the people who live in the house. AT: "David's family" (See: Metonymy)
May Yahweh require an accounting from the hand of the enemies of David
The hand is a synecdoche for the person. Possible meanings are 1) "May Yahweh use David's enemies to punish David if David breaks this promise" or 2) "May Yahweh destroy the enemies of David." (See: Synecdoche)
translationWords
life
covenant faithfulness
Yahweh
die
cut off
house
adversary
face
earth
covenant
hand
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv13, 14, 15, 17 20:13 may the Lord strike me: Jonathan invoked a…
20:13 may the Lord strike me: Jonathan invoked a curse upon himself to reassure David that he would keep his promise. • as he used to be with my father: Jonathan recognized that David had received the blessing from God that his father had once had. The divine favor that had brought Saul into royal office (9:14–10:1) would bring David into royal office as Saul’s replacement. Jonathan accepted this even though he was the natural successor to Saul.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.