35 And it cometh to pass in the morning, that Jonathan goeth out into the field for the appointment with David, and a little youth 'is' with him. 36 And he saith to his youth, 'Run, find, I pray thee, the arrows which I am shooting;' the youth is running, and he hath shot the arrow, causing 'it' to pass over him. 37 And the youth cometh unto the place of the arrow which Jonathan hath shot, and Jonathan calleth after the youth, and saith, 'Is not the arrow beyond thee?' 38 and Jonathan calleth after the youth, 'Speed, haste, stand not;' and Jonathan's youth gathereth the arrows, and cometh unto his lord. 39 And the youth hath not known anything, only Jonathan and David knew the word. 40 And Jonathan giveth his weapons unto the youth whom he hath, and saith to him, 'Go, carry into the city.' 41 The youth hath gone, and David hath risen from Ezel, at the south, and falleth on his face to the earth, and boweth himself three times, and they kiss one another, and they weep one with another, till David exerted himself; 42 and Jonathan saith to David, 'Go in peace, in that we have sworn—we two—in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah is between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed—unto the age;' and he riseth and goeth; and Jonathan hath gone in to the city.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:35-42
Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:35-42
(Read 1 Samuel 20:35-42)
The separation of two such faithful friends was grievous to both, but David's case was the more deplorable, for David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary. Christians need not sorrow, as men without hope; but being one with Christ, they are one with each other, and will meet in his presence ere long, to part no more; to meet where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes.