He chose this way to avoid Saul's suspicion, because bows and arrows were the principal arms of those times; and Jonathan, as well as others, did oft go forth to exercise himself with them, both for recreation, and improvement of his skill in that art. Besides, he knew not that he should have any opportunity of private converse with David, by reason of passengers, though the event proved better than he expected.
Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 20:20
1 Samuel 20:20
20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.