Key Verse Spotlight
1 Samuel 20:35 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him. "
1 Samuel 20:35
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
33 Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.
35 In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.
36 He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
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Here is Jonathan’s faithful carrying out of his promise to tell David the result of this dangerous test. He went out at the agreed time and place (1 Samuel 20:35). David was hiding nearby, and Jonathan sent his boy to fetch the arrows, which he shot as if at random (1 Samuel 20:36). Then he gave David the deadly serious signal by shooting an arrow beyond the boy (1 Samuel 20:37): “Is not the arrow beyond you?” David understood that word “beyond” better than the boy did.
Jonathan sent the boy away, since the child knew nothing about the matter. When he saw that the way was clear and there was no danger of being found out, he took one brief chance to speak with David in person. He had already told him to run for his life, and now that warning had to be carried out at once.
This was the sad parting of two very faithful friends, and, as far as we know, they did not meet again openly, except once later in secret in the woods (1 Samuel 23:16). David came to Jonathan with the respect of a servant more than the ease of a friend. He fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times, showing how deeply he felt his debt to Jonathan for all the help he had given him.
Then they said goodbye with great affection, with kisses and tears. They wept in each other’s arms until David wept even more (1 Samuel 20:41). The separation was painful for both of them, but David’s sorrow was greater. Jonathan was going back to his family and friends, while David was leaving behind all his comforts, even the blessings of God’s sanctuary. His spirit may also have been more tender, and his grief more intense.
In that hard moment, they clung to the covenant, that is, their solemn friendship agreement, that stood between them. Both found comfort in what they had sworn in the Lord’s name, for themselves and their descendants, that they and their children would keep faith and kindness with one another from generation to generation. In the same way, while we are still in this life and away from the Lord, our comfort is this: he has made an everlasting covenant with us.
From This Chapter
1 Samuel 20:1
"David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”"
1 Samuel 20:2
"He said to him, “Far from it; you will not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me. Why would my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.”"
1 Samuel 20:3
"David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;’ but truly as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”"
1 Samuel 20:4
"Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.”"
1 Samuel 20:5
"David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening."
1 Samuel 20:6
"If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem, his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’"
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