11 And Jonathan saith unto David, 'Come, and we go out into the field;' and they go out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan saith unto David, 'Jehovah, God of Israel—when I search my father, about 'this' time to-morrow 'or' the third 'day', and lo, good 'is' towards David, and I do not then send unto thee, and have uncovered thine ear— 13 thus doth Jehovah do to Jonathan, and thus doth He add; when the evil concerning thee is good to my father, then I have uncovered thine ear, and sent thee away, and thou hast gone in peace, and Jehovah is with thee, as he was with my father; 14 and not only while I am alive dost thou do with me the kindness of Jehovah, and I die not, 15 but thou dost not cut off thy kindness from my house unto the age, nor in Jehovah's cutting off the enemies of David, each one from off the face of the ground.' 16 And Jonathan covenanteth with the house of David, and Jehovah hath sought 'it' from the hand of the enemies of David; 17 and Jonathan addeth to cause David to swear, because he loveth him, for with the love of his own soul he hath loved him. 18 And Jonathan saith to him, 'To-morrow 'is' new moon, and thou hast been looked after, for thy seat is looked after; 19 and on the third day thou dost certainly come down, and hast come in unto the place where thou wast hidden in the day of the work, and hast remained near the stone Ezel. 20 'And I shoot three of the arrows at the side, sending out for myself at a mark; 21 and lo, I send the youth: Go, find the arrows. If I at all say to the youth, Lo, the arrows 'are' on this side of thee—take them,—then come thou, for peace 'is' for thee, and there is nothing; Jehovah liveth. 22 And if thus I say to the young man, Lo, the arrows 'are' beyond thee,—go, for Jehovah hath sent thee away; 23 as to the thing which we have spoken, I and thou, lo, Jehovah 'is' between me and thee—unto the age.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:11-23
Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:11-23
(Read 1 Samuel 20:11-23)
Jonathan faithfully promises that he would let David know how he found his father affected towards him. It will be kindness to ourselves and to ours, to secure an interest in those whom God favours, and to make his friends ours. True friendship rests on a firm basis, and is able to silence ambition, self-love, and undue regard for others. But who can fully understand the love of Jesus, who gave himself as a sacrifice for rebellious, polluted sinners! how great then ought to be the force and effects of our love to him, to his cause, and his people!