Observations and Interpretations:
David tried to convince Jonathan that his father was attempting to kill him. Initially, Jonathan disagreed, but he was willing to find out and let David know v.1-7. After experiencing the outrage of Saul to the point that he almost killed his own son, Jonathan was convinced v.33.
(1) Covenant and loyalty
(EBC) Covenant terminology (“show kindness,” vv.8, 14; “brought him into a covenant,” v.8; “do not ever cut off your kindness,” v.15; “made a covenant,” v.16; “reaffirm his oath,” v.17; “love[d],” v.17), used by both David and Jonathan, links together vv.8–17. Reminding Jonathan of the covenant that they had made (18:3), David asks him to demonstrate covenant loyalty, ḥeseḏ (“kindness,” v.8)—conduct required in “the mutual relationship of rights and duties between allies”
loyalty/covenant loyalty=(BDB)kindness of men towards men, in doing favours and benefits
(2) Jonathan's reaction vs Saul's reaction to the fact that David was going to replace Saul to be the king of Israel
A. Jonathan only asked for loyalty to his family when David would be the king:
v.13b...May the LORD be with you, as he was with my father. 14 While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the LORD, or else I will die. 15 Don’t ever cut off your loyalty to my family,
B. Saul thought that he would stop David from being the king by killing him, but Jonathan disagreed with the killing because David had done nothing wrong. To him, replacing his father as the king was not a crime.
31 For as long as this son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now, send some men and bring him to me. For he is as good as dead!”
32 Jonathan responded to his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
(EBC) To the assessment of others concerning the Lord’s presence “with” David (see 16:18 and comment; 17:37; 18:12, 14, 28), Jonathan now adds his own prayer to the same end (v.13). In so doing he parallels David’s divine calling with that of Saul and thus recognizes—again (see comment on 18:4)—that David, and not he himself (Saul’s disobedience had long since forfeited an enduring kingdom for himself and his descendants, 13:13–14), will be the next king of Israel.
32 Jonathan responded to his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
(EBC) To the assessment of others concerning the Lord’s presence “with” David (see 16:18 and comment; 17:37; 18:12, 14, 28), Jonathan now adds his own prayer to the same end (v.13). In so doing he parallels David’s divine calling with that of Saul and thus recognizes—again (see comment on 18:4)—that David, and not he himself (Saul’s disobedience had long since forfeited an enduring kingdom for himself and his descendants, 13:13–14), will be the next king of Israel.
Reflection: Why do you care more about some of your friends and some you do not? To Jonathan, he saw how the Lord’s presence was “with” David and he was at peace that David would be the next king. He saw that as a done deal and therefore he asked for the loyalty of the LORD to be extended to his family forever. To whom do you have a close relationship with? Why do you choose them over other people?
Jonathan made a choice out of faith and let David be the king. It was a great sacrifice. What choice have you made out of your faith and cost you a lot?
Audrey
2024
ch 21
Bright spots
1. How did the Scripture or God see David fleeing from Saul?
When he got his supply of food and weapon he fled to King Achish
v.10 So on that day David arose and fled from Saul. He went to King Achish of Gath.
But, when the servants Achish recognized him to be the king of the land v.11 he was very afraid because he was in their power v.13.
13 He altered his behavior in their presence. Since he was in their power, he pretended to be insane
Obviously, he was not considering the facts carefully.
2. His request for food and weapon led to the killing of the priest and his family later on, and this was predictable. Doeg, the servant of Saul was not behind the curtain secretly.
v.7 (One of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s shepherds.) 8 David said to Ahimelech, “Is there no sword or spear here at your disposal? I don’t have my own sword or equipment in hand due to the urgency of the king’s instructions.”
(EBC) The two chapters [21,22] comprise a literary unit of three sections arranged in chiastic order. Chapters 21:1–9 and 22:6–23 are concerned with the priestly compound at Nob in Benjamin while the central section (21:10–22:5) summarizes David’s flight to Gath in Philistia, Adullam in Judah, and Mizpah in Moab
3. Ahimelech the priest in Nob, did not biased to David and supplied his needs in any intention to help him to flee. He repeatedly told David that there is no other bread or no other weapon other than those given to him v.4, 6, 9. He did not purposely give him anything that was supposed to be the best of the kind.
Reflection
David fled from Saul for many years and never got caught was not because he was a very careful person. Twice in this passage we see how careless he was. Eventually he needed to pretend to be insane to escape. The priests and his family was killed because of him. Jonathan concluded David's flee as "the LORD has sent you away," and it is correct. If it is not bc of the grace of God, David had already died.
How about me? What careless mistake I have made and results in danger to myself and others? I survived today not because of my own carefulness, but because of the grace of God.
Questions
1. bread and weapon so that he could flee from Saul.
He did not told the priest that he was fleeing from Saul and that's why he was alone. He said he was instructed by "the king" to do something. He avoided the name Saul.
(EBC) David’s statement concerning his meeting his men at a “certain” place is a rare Hebrew idiom that is used when one either does not know the name of a person or place or when he is deliberately trying to conceal it from his audience.
From J' answer in Mark 2, David must have some companion to share the bread with. His statement for his men at a certain place is not used as an idiom. It is literal.
2. bread and weapon
mk 2: 26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?”
Jesus is clear that on the surface there was a violation here. What is not as clear is whether he is arguing a “greater need” makes this permissible or that this was within the intention of the law all along.
3. God saved him in time of danger Ps 34:19.
4. See reflection above.
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