Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
The question belongs to the time after the slaying of Goliath, when Saul kept David with him and would not let him return to his father's house. At that time the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul, they made a covenant to be united as brethren, Jonathan gave David his robe and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle, and David was trusted with important responsibilities and won affection by modesty. The sacred bond of friendship behind the question was God's doing, and through it Jonathan helped preserve David's life when Saul tried to kill him.
David asked the question conscious of his innocence and unconvinced by Jonathan's confidence that Saul had changed, asking with intense earnestness how he would learn Saul's true intention if Saul answered roughly. By the question he sought a sure sign to decide between safety and flight. The answer was arranged in the plan that David would be absent from the new moon feast at the king's table, visit his brothers in Bethlehem for the household sacrifice, then hide in a field near the banqueting hall for three days while Jonathan watched Saul's reaction to the excuse. The rule was that if Saul said it is well David could safely return to court, but if Saul became enraged it would prove murderous intent and settle that David must flee.
Through David's wise conduct and the long hardships connected with this experience, God prepared him to rule Israel and taught him to trust fully in God.
The question belongs to the time after the slaying of Goliath, when Saul kept David with him and would not let him return to his father's house. At that time the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul, they made a covenant to be united as brethren, Jonathan gave David his robe and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle, and David was trusted with important responsibilities and won affection by modesty. The sacred bond of friendship behind the question was God's doing, and through it Jonathan helped preserve David's life when Saul tried to kill him.
David asked the question conscious of his innocence and unconvinced by Jonathan's confidence that Saul had changed, asking with intense earnestness how he would learn Saul's true intention if Saul answered roughly. By the question he sought a sure sign to decide between safety and flight. The answer was arranged in the plan that David would be absent from the new moon feast at the king's table, visit his brothers in Bethlehem for the household sacrifice, then hide in a field near the banqueting hall for three days while Jonathan watched Saul's reaction to the excuse. The rule was that if Saul said it is well David could safely return to court, but if Saul became enraged it would prove murderous intent and settle that David must flee.
Through David's wise conduct and the long hardships connected with this experience, God prepared him to rule Israel and taught him to trust fully in God.