And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
Jonathan said ... Come, and let us go out into the field. The scene of this memorable conference was, as Porter describes ('Handbook,' p. 324), 'a shallow valley between Gibeah (Tell el-Fulil) and Nob, breaking down on the east in rocky declivities into Wady Suleim. Behind some of the rocks in it David could easily lie hid, and yet see Jonathan descending from the city above.' The private dialogue which is here detailed at full length presents a most beautiful exhibition of these two amiable and noble-minded friends. Jonathan was led, in the circumstances, to be the chief speaker. The strength of his attachment, his pure disinterestedness, his warm piety, his invocation to God-consisting of a prayer and a solemn oath combined-the calm and full expression he gave of his conviction that his own family were, by the divine will, to be disinherited, and David elevated to the possession of the throne; the covenant entered into with David on behalf of his descendants, and the imprecation (1 Samuel 20:16) denounced on any of them who should violate his part of the conditions; the reiteration of this covenant on both sides (1 Samuel 20:17), to make it indissoluble-all this indicates such a power of mutual affection, such magnetic attractiveness in the character of David, such susceptibility and elevation of feeling in the heart of Jonathan, that this interview, for dramatic interest and moral beauty, stands unrivaled in the records of human friendship.