1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:1

iniquity. Hebrew `avah. App-44. sin. Hebrew. chata’. App-44.

my life = my soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13. “Me” emphatic.

1 Samuel 20:2

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

1 Samuel 20:3

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

thy soul = thou. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

step = stride. Hebrew. pesa `. Occ. only here.

1 Samuel 20:5

should not fail to sit. Septuagint reads “shall not sit”. unto the third day at even. Septuagint reads “until the evening”. Compare 1 Samuel 20:12.

1 Samuel 20:7

evil. Hebrew. ra’a. App-44.

1 Samuel 20:12

O LORD God of Israel. Syriac reads “Jehovah, God of Israel, [be] witness that I will sound”, &c.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

1 Samuel 20:13

as = according as.

1 Samuel 20:15

the face of. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6.

1 Samuel 20:16

made = solemnised.

1 Samuel 20:17

And Jonathan caused David to swear again. Septuagint reads “And again Jonathan sware unto David”. soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

1 Samuel 20:19

when the business was in hand: i.e. the day when Jonathan arranged for David to overhear Saul’s murderous intention (1 Samuel 19:2, 1 Samuel 19:3), and when Jonathan devoted himself to the business of David’s safety.

stone Ezel. Septuagint reads “the side of this mound”.

1 Samuel 20:24

meat. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6, for all kinds of food.

1 Samuel 20:26

not any thing: i.e. “nothing [concerning David’s absence] that day “.

1 Samuel 20:30

Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman = a son of rebellious perversity: i.e. a rebel like David. Compare note on 1 Samuel 18:19.

1 Samuel 20:31

shall surely die = the son of death: i.e. doomed to die.

1 Samuel 20:40

artillery = weapons. Word extended from Latin. ars = art. The oldest art was ploughing, but the chief weapon in the art of war has usurped to itself this word.

1 Samuel 20:41

out of a place toward the south. Sept, reads “from beside the mound”: i, e. Ezel, in 1 Samuel 20:19.