1 Sam 20.1-42 deals with Jonathan’s attempt to get his father and David back on the same page. David has fled from Naioth (“Navit”) while Saul was prophesying in 1 Sam 19.23-24. David wants to know if there is any chance of reconciliation with Saul, so he comes to Jonathan and asks, “What have I done?” This is to test Jonathan’s loyalty and he wants to know what side Jonathan is on. Jonathan is loyal to David, and David wanted to know why Jonathan didn’t warn him about Saul’s attempt to arrest him at Naioth. Jonathan said he didn’t know and he reassures David of his loyalty. Even though he and his father were close, Saul didn’t tell him because he knew Jonathan had a relationship with David.
David says that there is but a step between him and death, meaning death is close. He knows Saul is after him and he won’t quit, and Jonathan reassures David that he will help him. So they will test Saul. The next day was a new moon (possibly Yom Teruah as we shall see) and there will be a feast. David can’t go but he will hide in a field. Jonathan will test Saul and find out what his intentions are at the feast. He is to tell Saul David went home for the yearly sacrifice with his family, which was the custom. Now, this is an important concept and special korbanot were commanded for the new moon in Num 28.11-15. These were permitted at certain times before the Temple of Solomon was built. The “bamot” or “high places” were discussed in the Mishnah, Zevachim 14.4-8, and it says, “Before the tabernacle was set up, the high places (to Yehovah) were permitted and the Altar service was fulfilled by the first born. But after the tabernacle was set up, the high places were forbidden, and the Altar service was fulfilled by the priests; the Most Holy things (Kodshai Kodashim) were consumed within the curtains, and the Lesser Holy things (Kodshai Kelim) throughout the camp of Israel.”
“After they came to Gilgal the high places were again permitted (no Ark in the Mishkan); the Most Holy things could be eaten only within the curtains but the Lesser Holy things in any place. After they came to Shiloh (the Ark was in the Mishkan) the high places were forbidden. There was no roof-beam there, but below was a house of stone and above were the hangings, and this was the ‘resting place.’ The Most Holy things were consumed within the curtains, and the Lesser Holy things and the Second Tithe in any place within sight of Shiloh.”
“After they came to Nob and to Gibeon the high places were permitted; the Most Holy things were consumed within the curtains and the Lesser Holy things throughout the cities of Israel. After they came to Jerusalem the high places were forbidden and never again permitted; and this was the ‘inheritance.’ The Most Holy things were consumed within the curtains and the Lesser Holy things and the Second Tithe within the wall of Jerusalem.” Now, this is an important concept. These high places were for the worship of Yehovah only. Any high place dedicated to a false god was never permitted.
So, David tells Jonathan to tell Saul that he has gone home for the yearly sacrifice, but he will be hiding in a certain field. When Jonathan tells his father where David went (home), if Saul says, “It is good” then he would be safe. But if he gets angry, he is to know that his father has decided on evil against him. But how will David know the answer if he is hiding in a field and Jonathan can’t be seen with him? Jonathan says once he has ascertained what his father’s intentions are “this time tomorrow or the third day” he will tell David. The “third day” alludes to the fact that this was Yom Teruah (Rosh Ha Shanah) because it was a two day festival. The third day refers to the next day after the two days of celebration. Jonathan knows where David will be in the field and will just send for David and tell him. But if Saul’s intention was evil, he will let David know this as well. Jonathan wants David to make a covenant with him that he will show kindness to Jonathan’s house, and David agrees. David will fulfill his promise to Jonathan in 2 Sam 9.1-8 and 21.7.
Jonathan will give David a signal in 1 Sam 20.18-29 about Saul’s intentions. Jonathan loved David as his own life, even above his own father. He tells David that tomorrow is the new moon, and he will would be missed at the ceremonial meal in the palace. After three days he was to go where he hid himself before and remain by the stone Ezel (“going”). Just in case someone might be around, Jonathan will shoot three arrows (according to the three days he was missing) to the side like he was aiming at a target. Then he will send an attendant to retrieve the arrows. If he says the arrows are “on the side of you” then it is safe. But if he says, “The arrows are beyond you go, for the Lord has sent you away.”
So David hid in the field and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat, but David’s place was empty. Saul didn’t think much of it and thought that David was in a state in uncleanness so he could not eat a ceremonial meal. On the second day of the new moon (showing this was Yom Teruah or Rosh Ha Shanah) David’s place was still empty, and Saul asks why David has not come to the meal. Jonathan tells him that David asked for leave in order to go to Bethlehem with his family. But Saul got angry with Jonathan for letting David go and accused him of favoring David over him. Saul says that people will say that Jonathan was not fit to reign because he is choosing David over his own father. Then people will say Jonathan was illegitimate, bringing shame to his mother (v 30).
The new moon is called “The Day No Man Knows” (Matt 24.36) because the Lord was the only one there (no man) when the moon was created. Nobody knows when the moon will be sighted each month, so the new moon is a day no man knows until the first crescent of the moon is sighted. Tishri 1 is a new moon and it is the day the civil calendar begins, and this day was called “the head of the year” or Rosh Ha Shanah. The Natzal (rapture/gathering) will happen on the new moon of the month of Tishri, year 6001 from creation. We will deal with this in our upcoming teachings on the Natzal (rapture). So, it was called the “day no man knows” by Yeshua because we won’t know the exact day he will come. Rosh Ha Shanah celebrates the resurrection of the righteous, the judgment, the Coronation of the Messiah and the Wedding of the Messiah.
Saul orders Jonathan to go get David for he must surely die. As long as David is alive, Saul’s heirs will not have a kingdom because he is a threat to Jonathan’s reign, but Saul was just concerned for himself. Of course, Jonathan says “No” and Saul throws a spear at Jonathan, and he now knows that his father has decided to kill David.
So Jonathan meets David at the rock Ezel and he tells the attendant to run and find the arrows he is about to shoot. As the attendant is running, Jonathan shoots an arrow past him. When the attendant reaches the spot where the arrow was, Jonathan calls for him and tells him, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” He then calls the attendant and tells him that he can go ahead and go back to the city of Gibeah, and gives him his weapons. Jonathan knew that nobody was around so he dismisses the attendant so that he can talk to David.
When the attendant was gone, David rose from the south side (the direction of faith) and fell on his face before Jonathan, and bowed three times. This was proper when greeting a king or prince. David has hoped against hope that things can be reconciled, but as the arrow went past him his hopes were dashed. It was never to be. They kissed one another and both wept. David couldn’t stay and has a long, treacherous life before him, and Jonathan couldn’t go. Jonathan says, “Go in safety, inasmuch we have sworn to each other in the name of Yehovah.” He then says, “Yehovah will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.” They were saying their goodbyes and they know that the other will honor them, even after their death. David will see Jonathan one more time shortly before Jonathan’s death.
We will pick up here in Part 17.
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