Deep Dive

I Samuel 20:31

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For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 31

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).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 31

יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשַׁי (Yishay, H3448) — Jishai, David's father חָיַי (châyay, H2425) — to live; causatively to revive אֲדָמָה (ʼădâmâh, H127) — soil (from its general redness) כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… מַלְכוּת (malkûwth, H4438) — a rule; concretely, a dominion שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

I Samuel 19:6rank 3

Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”

I Samuel 20:8rank 3

Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”

Psalms 79:11rank 2

May the groans of the captives reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death.

I Samuel 26:16rank 2

This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

II Samuel 19:28rank 2

For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

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