C). Jonathan Acts On David's Behalf In Order To Protect Him From Saul But They Finally Have To Say Farewell (1 Samuel 20:1-42).
In this subsection Jonathan at first refuses to believe David when he claims that Saul is trying to kill him (David) but determines to discover the truth. Meanwhile he renews a firm covenant with David and then attends the New Moon Festival where he discovers that David is right. He goes to Warn David and they say their final farewell.
Analysis.
a David Tells Jonathan That Saul Intends To Kill Him (David). Jonathan Does Not Believe It But Excuses David From Attendance At The New Moon Festival (1 Samuel 20:1-9).
b Jonathan Renews Covenant With David And Declares That He Will Discover His Father's Intentions (1 Samuel 20:10-24 a).
b Jonathan Discovers Saul's Intentions At The Moon Festival And Fasts Out Of Grief (1 Samuel 20:24-34).
a Jonathan Confirms To David That He Was Right And They Say Farewell (1 Samuel 20:35-42).
Chapter 20. David Finds Himself At Crisis Point, And Jonathan Is At Last Finally Convinced That His Father Means To Kill David.
It appears from the narrative that although he had now made two major attempts to arrest David, presumably for treason, Saul had gone to some pains to conceal his actions from Jonathan. He knew of his son's deep friendship with David, and clearly felt that it was better for him not to know anything of what he was doing. Jonathan, who was an open and honest person, was thus in complete ignorance of Saul's attempts to arrest David, and was satisfied that the agreement that he had made with his father about David's safety (1 Samuel 19:6) still stood.
Meanwhile David was bewildered as to why Saul was treating him like an enemy. While he would not know the detailed workings of Saul's mind he was certainly now aware that Saul was seeking to arrest him and that his life was in danger. And he was also equally confident that he had done nothing to deserve it. Indeed because he had at this time no designs on the throne, he was completely baffled by Saul's behaviour. But he was also astute enough to recognise that the problem appeared to be permanent, something Jonathan could not be convinced of, until in the end he had no option but to be so.
Another problem that David had was that the new moon was approaching, and at this particular new moon all Saul's courtiers and commanders were required to attend at the palace for the new moon celebrations. This put him in a quandary, for he knew that Saul had the intention of arresting him, which meant that he dared not attend, while on the other hand he knew that not to be present would be tantamount to rebellion and would give good cause for arresting him. It would be looked on as a deliberate insult to the king. So being a man who dealt wisely he sought out Jonathan in order to obtain a legitimate excuse from him for not attending the festival, an excuse which was valid because it was sealed by royal authority, the authority of Jonathan the crown prince. This would mean that he could then avoid attending without insulting the king, as he would basically have had royal permission for his absence.
In this chapter we have described for us Jonathan's slow recognition that David's position at court was hopeless, followed by his communication of the fact to David, and then their parting as he bids David ‘God speed'.
Central to the whole passage is the relationship between Jonathan and David. It is a moving account of the brotherly love between two men. But even more importantly, it provides us with the final evidence of David's integrity, otherwise Jonathan, who was fully up with all political affairs (apart from those to do with David's proposed demise) would not have stood by him like he did, and would not have made a firm covenant with him. Furthermore there is also here an indication that Jonathan himself recognises that in the end it is David who is bound for the throne, and is quite content that its should be so.