Quest. How could David imagine that Saul would expect his company, whom he had once and again endeavoured to kill? Answ. First, He might suppose that David would ascribe all that to his madness and frantic fits, which being over, he would promise himself safety in the king's presence. Secondly, David might not think that Saul would indeed expect him to feast with him, considering his late and great danger from Saul; but that Saul would make use of this pretence, and require his presence, that he might lay hold upon him; and therefore he desired to try the experiment. Asked leave of me, who being the king's son and deputy, used to give licence to military men to depart for a season upon just occasions. His city, i.e. the place of his birth and education, 1 Thessalonians 7:42. A yearly sacrifice; a sacrifice which was offered up in some high place there yearly, upon some special occasion not mentioned in Scripture, which was accompanied with a feast; or, a yearly feast, as the Hebrew word is sometimes used. For all the family; wherein all the members of our family used to meet together, when they will earnestly expect me above others, and will charge me with pride and unnaturalness, if I neglect their invitation.
Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 20:6
1 Samuel 20:6
6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrificeb there for all the family.