1 Samuel 20:18

1Sa 20:18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow [is] the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.

Ver. 18. Tomorrow is the new moon.] {See Trapp on "1Sa 20:5"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Sa_20:18

Thou shalt be missed.

Being missed

There are two aspects of truth in these words. One fact is plain enough; the vacant chair will one day be our own. I do not say that the highest motive that can inspire us is to be found in a desire to be gratefully remembered. No; Christian duty has its highest motives in the love of Christ, and in devotion to the right as right.

I. There is a recognition of reality all around and about us. Men are for the most part known for what they verily are.

II. There are graduated spheres of influence.

III. There are capacities individual to ourselves. Each Life is a separate creation of Gods. No two dogs even have the same countenances.

IV. There is a recognition of special friendship. We cannot feel alike to all if we would. (W. M. Statham.)

Thy seat shall be empty.

The vacant chair

1. I point out to you the fathers vacant chair.

2. I go a little farther on in your house, and I find the mothers vacant chair.

3. I go on a little further, and I come to the invalids chair.

4. I pass on, and I find one more vacant chair. It is a high chair. It is the childs chair. If that chair be occupied, I think it is the most potent chair in all the household. (T. De Witt Talmage.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20:18-22 Jonathan’s ruse would allow David to get the message even if there could be no face-to-face meeting; the boy’s presence would allay suspicion and provide Jonathan an alibi for going to the field. As it happened, no one but the boy accompanied Jonathan to the field, so when the boy left, David was able to speak with Jonathan face to face (20:40-42).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, mentioned.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(18) Thou shalt be missed.—Well then, resumes Jonathan—after the passionate conclusion of the solemn covenant betwixt the friends—the last trial shall be as you propose. At the State banquet of my father tomorrow your seat, as agreed upon, will be empty, then you and I—when King Saul misses you—will know the worst.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. thy seat will be empty] At the sacrificial feast. See 1Sa_20:5; 1Sa_20:25.

18–42. This section is the Haphtarah for the New Moon when it falls on the first day of the week.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then Jonathan said to David, tomorrow is the new moon,.... The first day of the month, as David had before observed, Sa1 20:5,

and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty; or be inquired after, because not in his usual place at mealtime.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Thy seat, i.e. the place where David used to sit at meals with Saul. See 1Sa 20:25.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vers. 18, 19. Jonathan now arranges his plan for communicating the result to David. For when thou hast stayed three days, at which all the versions stumble, a slight alteration gives the right sense: "And on the third day." David on the third day was to go down quickly Hebrew, "greatly, i.e. he was to go a long way down into the valley. The rendering quickly is taken from the Vulgate, but makes no sense. It did not matter whether David went fast or slow, as he was to hide there for some time, but it was important that David should be far away, so that no prying eye might chance to catch sight of him. When the business was in hand. Literally, "the day of the business," probably that narrated in 1Sa_19:2-7. The Septuagint, Vulgate, and Chaldee all understand "a working day," in opposition to a feast day; but "where thou didst hide thyself on a week day" gives no intelligible meaning. By the stone Ezel. As the name Ezel is formed from a verb signifying to go, some understand by it a road stone, a stone to mark the way.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Tomorrow is the New Moon. And it is customary for all those who eat at the king's table to come on the festive day to the table.

And you will be missed. My father will miss you, and ask where you are. Because your seat will be empty. For your seat in which you sit, will be empty, and so did Targum Yonoson render, 'and you will be sought, for your seat will be vacant.'

And you will be missed. An expression of remembering.

Will be empty. An expression of missing.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.