1 SAMUEL LESSON 23


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 20:23 "And [as touching]
the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD [be]
between thee and me for ever."

     In the last lesson, Saul had tried to kill David. David and his
friend, Jonathan, had gone out in the field, and renewed their
covenant of friendship. Jonathan and David had figured out a way that
Jonathan could get word to David in the field, if it was safe to come
in or not. Jonathan would shoot three arrows out toward a rock.
Jonathan would send a youngster to get the arrows. Jonathan would,
then, call out to him that the arrows were back toward Jonathan, if it
was safe for David to come in. If he told the youngster to go past the
rock, it meant that David must leave quickly. We see that the LORD is
witness with Jonathan and David.

     I Samuel 20:24  "So David hid himself in the field: and when the
new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat."

     David was not at his usual place at the table for this feast of
the new moon. He was hiding in the field, until he hears from Jonathan
whether it is safe to come in, or not.

     I Samuel 20:25 "And the king sat upon his seat, as at other
times, [even] upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner
sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty."  I Samuel 20:26
"Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought,
Something hath befallen him, he [is] not clean; surely he [is] not
clean."

     They all took their places at the table. Saul did not say
anything about David not being at the table. He supposed that he was
ceremonially not clean for some reason.

     I Samuel 20:27 "And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was]
the second [day] of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul
said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to
meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?"

     Saul is suddenly aware, that something is wrong with David not
being present on this second day. Since Jonathan and David were best
friends, Saul asks Jonathan where he is.

     I Samuel 20:28 "And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked
[leave] of me [to go] to Beth-lehem:" I Samuel 20:29 "And he said, Let
me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and
my brother, he hath commanded me [to be there]: and now, if I have
found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my
brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table."

     This is the story that Jonathan and David had prepared to tell
Saul, except Jonathan adds that the brother wanted him to come. This
would generally have been acceptable. It appears at this point, that
Saul has not suspicioned anything.

     I Samuel 20:30 "Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan,
and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do
not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own
confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?"

     Saul did not like Jonathan siding in with David. It was really
Jonathan, he was calling perverse and rebellious. He said this about
Jonathan's mother to hurt Jonathan more deeply, than if he had said it
about Jonathan. He is saying that Jonathan's mother will be ashamed of
Jonathan choosing David over his father.

     I Samuel 20:31 "For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the
ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now
send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die."

     Saul is trying to tell Jonathan that his inheritance to the
throne has been taken by David. Really Saul is not interested in
Jonathan, he just wants to turn Jonathan against David. He is trying
to get Jonathan to kill David. He knows that David would come in for
Jonathan.

     I Samuel 20:32 "And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said
unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?"

     Saul knows David has done nothing to be killed for. Saul is
afraid of losing his throne to David. That is Saul's real reason for
killing David.

     I Samuel 20:33 "And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him:
whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay
David."

     Saul attempted to hit his own son with the javelin, because he
did not want to kill David. Jonathan realizes that Saul will not be
satisfied, until he has killed David.

     I Samuel 20:34 "So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger,
and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved
for David, because his father had done him shame."

     Jonathan was, now, angry with Saul, his father. He knew Saul had
no good reason for wanting to kill David. Jonathan left the feast. He
refused to eat the meat of the feast.

     I Samuel 20:35  "And it came to pass in the morning, that
Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and
a little lad with him."

     Jonathan remembered his promise to David, and went out with the
lad to shoot the arrows.

     I Samuel 20:36 "And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the
arrows which I shoot. [And] as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond
him."

     This was done, so Jonathan could shout instructions for him to go
further. This was the sign to David that he should flee. The fact that
Jonathan had the little lad with him, was to keep down suspicion.

     I Samuel 20:37 "And when the lad was come to the place of the
arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said,
[Is] not the arrow beyond thee?"

     Jonathan was making sure that David realized it was necessary for
him to flee.

     I Samuel 20:38 "And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed,
haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came
to his master."  I Samuel 20:39 "But the lad knew not any thing: only
Jonathan and David knew the matter."

     This would not have been kept secret, if the lad had known what
the reason was for running after the arrows. Jonathan cried out all of
these things, so no one would know the reason.

     I Samuel 20:40 "And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and
said unto him, Go, carry [them] to the city."

     This was a way to get rid of the boy. Jonathan sent his weapon
back to town with the boy, so he could say goodbye to David.

     I Samuel 20:41  "[And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose
out of [a place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground,
and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept
one with another, until David exceeded."

     These close friends hugged, and as was the custom in their land,
they kissed. David had bowed before Jonathan prior to their hugging
each other. "Exceeded" means that David broke down weeping. These good
friends thought this might be their last time to see each other.

     I Samuel 20:42 "And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace,
forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying,
The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for
ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city."

     They would always be friends. They would let this friendship live
on in their children, if one of them die. Their bond of friendship was
sealed with an oath to God. David fled to hide, and Jonathan went back
into the city.





                        1 Samuel 23 Questions


1.  Where had David and Jonathan gone to renew their covenant?
2.  How was Jonathan to warn David not to come in?
3.  Where did David hide to wait?
4.  What was the feast celebrating?
5.  Who ate with Jonathan and Saul?
6.  Why did Saul think David was not there the first day?
7.  What does Saul call David, in verse 27?
8.  Why does Saul ask Jonathan, where David is?
9.  What reason does Jonathan give for David not being there?
10. What had Jonathan added to the story he and David had prepared?
11. Who was Saul's anger kindled against?
12. What terrible things does Saul call Jonathan's mother?
13. Saul accuses Jonathan of choosing _________ over himself.
14. What excuse does he give Jonathan for killing David?
15. Is Saul really interested in the good of Jonathan?
16. What question does Jonathan ask Saul?
17. Why does Saul want David killed, really?
18. What did Saul do, that could have killed Jonathan?
19. What does Jonathan do?
20. How was Jonathan feeling toward his father?
21. Who did Jonathan take to the field with him?
22. What was the lad to do?
23. What did Jonathan cry out to the lad, after he shot the arrow?
24. Who were the only ones who knew the plan?
25. When the boy left, what did David and Jonathan do?
26. What did Jonathan say to David?