1 Samuel 20:42

1Sa 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

Ver. 42. Forasmuch as we have sworn both of us.] Some read it, What things soever we have sworn, &c., making it to be an elliptical broken speech: as it is usual with those that are in heaviness to utter half sentences, &c.

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_20:42

And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord.

Real friendship

All faithful friends went on a pilgrimage years ago, and none of them have ever come back; so wrote one of the Puritan divines, whose heart was depressed at the time most likely. Perhaps the best definition of friendship is that given by Addison: it is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of each other.

I. True friendship requires some acknowledged basis of individual worth. To be very popular is very different from being beloved. Froissart says of Gaston de Foix, In everything he was so perfect that he cannot be praised too much; he loved what ought to be beloved, and hated what ought to be condemned; and he never had miscreant with him.

II. True friendship demands courage and self-sacrifice in instant answer to the call. When Jonathan rose up from the table there was more than one javelin in the air coming towards him; there was the mad kings wrath shooting lances of fire also.

III. True friendship becomes more disinterested as it becomes more loving.

IV. True friendship shows itself by delicate and sometimes mysterious signals of communication. Indeed, when two men become fast and sympathetic comrades, we sometimes fail to discover what they find in each other so companionable.

V. True friendship finds its highest model in the Lord of life and glory. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)

Divine goodness in human friendship

I. In its freedom from all jealousy, Jonathans conduct was most exemplary. It was here that the son proved himself to be so much more noble than the father; for Jonathan saw himself surpassed by David, and yet was his faithful friend, and indeed found one reason for his love in that superiority which David had secured.

II. The friendship of Jonathan was eminently practical. It did not consist either of fair and flattering words which he uttered, or of a mere luxury of sentiment which be enjoyed. On the very first day of its life it proved its power, by prompting Jonathan to put his royal robes on Davids shoulder, to gird his sword on Davids thigh, and to place his bow in Davids hands; as much as to say, I will give thee of my best. Thou art more of a kings son than I am. These befit thee more than me. There are friendships in the world which cost those who cherish them nothing, and like many other cheap things they are worth just what they cost.

III. Jonathans friendship for David was eminently unselfish. It was much that he could do for David; it was but little that David could do for him. Personally, he had no interest in Davids continued life and increasing power; but, speaking after the manner of men, his interest lay in the opposite direction. To Sauls selfish heart this nobleness of love and self-forgetfulness seemed nothing but wilful wickedness and sheer madness. How could he comprehend it?

IV. Jonathans friendship had the crowning grace of constancy. It began in the midst of Davids new-born posterity, but it lasted through all his reverses.

1. There is one fact belonging to this history which has seldom had the attention it deserves. While Jonathan was always faithful to David, he was never false to his lather. Some men wail cultivate one virtue alone, and make it an Aarons rod--swallowing up all the other virtues; but this man did not suffer his virtues as a friend to devour his virtues as a son.

2. It needs no word to prove that the friendship we have been studying must have been a great help and blessing to David. How great, is known only to Him by whom the boon was bestowed.

3. As we contemplate the character of Jonathan, we are made increasingly thankful that the immortality of the good is revealed in Gods Word beyond the possibility of doubt or question. We are forbidden to think that the love of Jonathans heart, which wrought so beneficently on earth, labours no longer for the welfare of the others. Can it be possible that the God who created it in His own image doomed it to indolence? Would not that be to doom the possessor of it to misery? (C. Vines.)

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

1Sa 20:42. Jonathan said, The Lord be between thee and me, &c. — As much as to say, Fear not but I will faithfully keep my covenant with thee; as I doubt not of thy perpetual steadfastness in it with me and my posterity. And this must be our satisfaction in this sad separation. And he arose and departed — That is, David left Jonathan, that he might avoid the effects of Saul’s wrath, and escape immediate destruction; and Jonathan returned to his family and friends. And it appears that these two friends never met again on earth, except once, and that was by stealth in a wood, chap. 23. 16. But their spirits have long been united in the paradise of God, and they shall spend an eternity together in their complete persons, in that world of love and harmony where, the former things being passed away, friends united in heart will be separated no more!

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20:42 sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name: See 18:3; 20:15-17; 23:16-18.

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

Which oath he calleth in the eighth verse, the covenant of the Lord.

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

Jonathan said to David, Go in peace--The interview being a stolen one, and every moment precious, it was kindness in Jonathan to hasten his friend's departure.

Next: 1 Samuel Chapter 21

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(42) Go in peace.—The abruptness of the closing words is most natural, and accords with the evident deep emotion of the speaker. David’s heart was too full to reply to his friend’s words; blinded with tears, he seems to have hurried away speechless.

“We may indeed wonder at the delicacy of feeling and the gentleness of the sentiments which these two men in those old rough times entertained for one another. No ancient writer has set before us so noble an example of a heartfelt, unselfish, and thoroughly human state of feeling, and none has described friendship with such entire truth in all its relations, and with such complete and profound knowledge of the human heart.”—Phillipson, quoted by Payne Smith.

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

42. forasmuch as, &c.] It is better to follow the marginal rendering in assuming an aposiopesis, which corresponds with Jonathan’s deep emotion. “That which we have sworn, &c.”—remember! Jonathan’s parting charge reminds David of their mutual vow.

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.

And Jonathan said to David, go in peace,.... In peace of mind, committing himself, his family, and affairs, to the providence of God, who would take care of him, and keep him in safety from the evil designs of Saul; and particularly he would have him be easy with respect to what had passed between them two, not doubting but it would be faithfully observed on both sides:

forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord: had made a covenant with each other by an oath, in the name and presence of God as a witness to it:

saying, the Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever; as a witness of the agreement between them, including them and their offspring, and as a revenger of such that should break it. The Targum is,"the Word of the Lord be between thee and me, &c."

and he arose and departed; that is, David arose from the ground, and took his leave of Jonathan, and departed into the country for the safety of his person and life:

and Jonathan went into the city; into the city of Gibeah, where Saul dwelt and had his court.

Next: 1 Samuel Chapter 21

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

Jonathan went into the city - From which one may infer, what the after history also indicates, that Jonathan’s filial duty and patriotism prevented a complete rupture with his father. Jonathan’s conduct in this, as in everything, was most admirable.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Stand. This is not expressed in the text, which is left imperfect, (Haydock) to denote the anguish of the parting friends, (Menochius) very beautifully. (Salien) --- David did not exactly comply with this covenant, and his grandson lost half the kingdom, 2 Kings xix. (Tirinus)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

We have sworn both of us; therefore doubt not but I will ever love thee, and faithfully serve thee; and the like I assure myself from thee; and this must be our comfort in our state of separation.

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

Go to peace. And the oath which we have sworn, may ה׳ be its witness forever.

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.