1Sa 20:11-17 | Clarke | STEP | Verse 11 Come, and let us go out into the field - In answer to David's question, he now shows him how he shall convey this intelligence to him.

1 Samuel 20:11-17

Verse 11

Come, and let us go out into the field - In answer to David's question, he now shows him how he shall convey this intelligence to him. Verse 12

Jonathan said - O Lord God of Israel - There is, most evidently, something wanting in this verse. The Septuagint has, The Lord God of Israel doth Know. The Syriac and Arabic, The Lord God of Israel is Witness. Either of these makes a good sense. But two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. supply the word חי chai, "liveth;" and the text reads thus, As the Lord God of Israel Liveth, when I have sounded my father - if there be good, and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee, the Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. This makes a still better sense. 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. Verse 14

Show me the kindness of the Lord - When thou comest to the kingdom, if I am alive, thou shalt show kindness to me, and thou shalt continue that kindness to my family after me.