1 Samuel 20:32

1Sa 20:32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

Ver. 32. Wherefore shall he be slain?] Good blood will not belie itself. Nicodemus, faint hearted at first, yet when Christ was likely to be apprehended, stickled for him, and to very good purpose. {Joh 7:50-53}

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_20:32-42

And Jonathan answered Saul, his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be slain?

Davids friend, Jonathan

There is little friendship in the world, said Lord Bacon. O friendship, wrote the author of Endymion, of all things the most rare; and therefore most rare, because most excellent.

1. Friendship means more than affection. Strange to say, greater friendships exist than in the family circle.

2. Again, friendship is not identical with the religious hope. The well-meaning, but ignorant, have beheaded the saints.

3. But while friendship is by no means involved in the family or the church affection, it yet remains true that the purest religious hope is the basis of the highest friendships. Great deeds are never done by those whose belief cuts off immortality.

I. True friendship is based on righteousness. Friendship is the outgrowth of righteousness. The most hallowed relationships afford no ground for unjust deeds among friends. The childs love for the father is no excuse for wrongdoing at that fathers command.

II. True friendship makes no account of personal danger. The world is slow in learning that there is a greater existence than self.

1. We turn from majorities and minorities to observe that personal comforts and discomforts are no criteria of action. The question is not as to pleasure and pain, but rather as to the highest obligations.

2. The true friend is never afraid of danger. The son may die by the fathers javelin, but Jonathans friendship is true.

III. True friendship rejoices in others prosperity. (Monday Club Sermons.)

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

For it were too great tyranny to put one to death and not to show the cause why.

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

(32) And Jonathan answered.—Jonathan, remembering the effect of his quiet, earnest remonstrance on a previous occasion, again tried to deprecate his father’s unreasoning jealous anger, but this time to no purpose. A paroxysm of madness seized Saul, and he grasped the long spear leaning by his side, and with hate and fury in his eye raised the great war weapon to strike down his son.

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

And Jonathan answered Saul his, father, and said unto him,.... Making no answer to the charges of perverseness, rebellion, and folly brought against himself, which he bore with patience, but could not bear to hear his dear friend spoken against, and as worthy of death; and therefore in answer to that says:

wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? has he attempted to take away thy life? to deprive thee of thy crown? to settle himself upon the throne? what overt act of treason has he been guilty of; that he should die? on the contrary, has he not done many things worthy of immortal honour, for the good of the nation, and the glory of thy reign? and if God has determined the kingdom for him, and anointed him to it, what blame can be laid upon him? nay, should he not be the rather respected and honoured?

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

Vers. 32-34. When Jonathan pleaded mildly for his friend, Saul did not east, but "brandished" (see on 1Sa_18:11) his javelin at him, threatening to smite him. This fierce behaviour of his father filled Jonathan also with anger, and he arose, refused to partake of the meal, and went away in wrath. His indignation was roused not merely at his father having thus brandished his javelin in his face, for he was sitting close to Saul, but because he had cast shameful aspersions upon David in saying that he was a rebel, and deserved death.

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

For what reason should he be put to death? What has he done?

Jonathan is trying to get Saul to think carefully about what he is doing. This can be translated as a statement, and the words "should he be put to death" can be translated in active form. AT: "You have no good reason to put him to death. He has done nothing wrong." or "You have no good reason to kill him. He has done nothing wrong." (See: Rhetorical Question)

the second day of the month

This "second" is an ordinal number which refers to two. AT: "the second day of the new moon festival" (See: Ordinal Numbers)

he was grieved over David

This can be stated in active form. AT: "he was grieving over David" (See: Active or Passive)

had dishonored him

Here "him" refers to David.

translationWords

Saul (OT)

spear

David

day

month

dishonor

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.