And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:
The verse records the prearranged explanation Jonathan was to give Saul in order to test Saul's intentions toward David at the time of the new moon festival. David was afraid to appear at the king's table, so he arranged to visit his brothers in Bethlehem and then hide for three days in a field near the banquet hall while Jonathan watched how Saul reacted. The explanation was that David had earnestly asked permission to go home to the city for his father's household sacrifice because his brother had commanded him to be there. A calm acceptance by Saul, with words to the effect that it was well, would show that David could safely return to court, while rage would prove that David had to flee. When on the second day Saul asked why the son of Jesse had missed the meals for two days, neither yesterday nor today, Jonathan answered with this excuse about going to Bethlehem. Saul's ungovernable anger in reply revealed his fixed purpose to put David to death and his fear that Jonathan could not come to the throne as long as David lived.
The verse also shows the sacred bond of union between Jonathan and David, whose hearts were knit together in a closeness that remained unbroken until the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. That friendship was the Lord's doing, so that Jonathan could be the means of preserving David's life when Saul sought to kill him. God's providence had connected David with Saul so that wise behavior would win him the confidence of the people and a long course of hardship and vicissitude would lead him to put entire trust in God while God was preparing him to become ruler of His people.
The verse records the prearranged explanation Jonathan was to give Saul in order to test Saul's intentions toward David at the time of the new moon festival. David was afraid to appear at the king's table, so he arranged to visit his brothers in Bethlehem and then hide for three days in a field near the banquet hall while Jonathan watched how Saul reacted. The explanation was that David had earnestly asked permission to go home to the city for his father's household sacrifice because his brother had commanded him to be there. A calm acceptance by Saul, with words to the effect that it was well, would show that David could safely return to court, while rage would prove that David had to flee. When on the second day Saul asked why the son of Jesse had missed the meals for two days, neither yesterday nor today, Jonathan answered with this excuse about going to Bethlehem. Saul's ungovernable anger in reply revealed his fixed purpose to put David to death and his fear that Jonathan could not come to the throne as long as David lived.
The verse also shows the sacred bond of union between Jonathan and David, whose hearts were knit together in a closeness that remained unbroken until the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. That friendship was the Lord's doing, so that Jonathan could be the means of preserving David's life when Saul sought to kill him. God's providence had connected David with Saul so that wise behavior would win him the confidence of the people and a long course of hardship and vicissitude would lead him to put entire trust in God while God was preparing him to become ruler of His people.