I Samuel 20:30
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Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the disgrace of the mother who bore you?
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
David, having several times narrowly escaped Saul's fury, begins to consider at last whether it may not be necessary for him to retire into the country and to take up arms in his own defence. But he will not do so daring a thing without consulting his faithful friend Jonathan; how he did this, and what passed between them, we have an account in this chapter, where we have as surprising instances of supernatural love as we had in the chapter before of unnatural hatred. I. David complains to Jonathan of his present distress, and engages him to be his friend (Sa1 20:1-8). II. Jonathan faithfully promises to get and give him intelligence how his father stood affected to him, and renews the covenant of friendship with him (Sa1 20:9-23). III. Jonathan, upon trial, finds, to his grief, that his father was implacably enraged against David (Sa1 20:24-34). IV. He gives David notice of this, according to the appointment between them (Sa1 20:35-42).
Open source ↗20:30 You stupid son of a whore! This epithet was as strong and insulting in Hebrew as it is in English. • shaming yourself: Saul was interested in the legacy of his own dynasty. He viewed David’s actions as ultimately directed against Jonathan, the hereditary successor. To Saul, Jonathan was stupidly hurting and shaming himself by supporting David.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
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The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
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Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
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A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.