I Samuel 20:41
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When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.
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 ↗20:41 David bowed: Jonathan had the higher social rank, so David’s homage was fitting. • Both of them were in tears: For the first time, the record of the emotion between these two men shows mutuality (see 18:1, 3-4; 20:17).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.
So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.
And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied.
They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him.
Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?
“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.