1 Samuel 20:26

1 Samuel 20:26 KJV Commentary

Context

This verse is set during a pivotal moment in the escalating conflict between King Saul and David. David, having been warned by Jonathan of Saul’s murderous intent, is intentionally absent from the king's table during the Feast of the New Moon. This absence is a pre-arranged test to gauge Saul's true disposition towards David. King Saul's initial silence on the first day of the feast, despite David's conspicuous absence, reveals his internal struggle. He is observing David's empty seat, but chooses not to react immediately, instead formulating an assumption about David's whereabouts. This follows a period where Saul's jealousy and paranoia towards David had grown intensely, leading to several attempts on David's life.

Key Themes

• Saul's Misinterpretation and Rationalization: Saul's immediate thought—that David was absent due to ritual impurity—shows his attempt to rationalize the situation before confronting it. He assumes David must be "unclean," a common reason for a person to be excluded from communal meals or religious gatherings under the Old Testament purity laws. This initial thought provides a socially acceptable explanation for David's absence, allowing Saul to defer his true, murderous intentions for a moment.
• The Role of Ritual Purity: The concept of ritual purity (Hebrew: tame) was significant in ancient Israelite society, governing participation in religious life and daily interactions. Saul's assumption highlights how such laws could be used, or misused, to explain or justify situations.
• Saul's Internal Conflict: His silence on this day, contrasted with his violent outburst the following day (1 Samuel 20:27), suggests a fleeting moment of self-restraint or perhaps a delay in processing his growing rage against David.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated phrase "he is not clean; surely he is not clean" emphasizes Saul's firm conviction regarding his assumption. The Hebrew word for "clean" is tahor, and "unclean" is tame. Saul's thought, "Something hath befallen him, he is not clean," refers to a state of ritual impurity, which could arise from various circumstances like contact with a dead body, certain bodily discharges, or other events outlined in the Mosaic Law. This impurity would temporarily prevent one from participating in holy activities or meals. Saul's immediate jump to this conclusion, rather than suspecting David's deliberate absence due to his own threats, reveals his self-deception and perhaps a subconscious desire to avoid the truth of David's fear of him.

Practical Application and Reflection

This verse offers insights into human nature and relationships:

• The Danger of Assumptions: Saul's quick leap to an assumption about David's ritual impurity, rather than seeking the truth or considering other possibilities, illustrates the danger of misinterpretation. Our assumptions can often be far from the truth and can lead to misunderstanding and conflict.
• Rationalization vs. Reality: Saul attempts to rationalize David's absence with a seemingly legitimate religious reason, but his true feelings of jealousy and hatred are soon to erupt. This reminds us how often people may use outward circumstances or even religious pretexts to mask deeper, less noble motives.
• Observing Silence: Sometimes, silence speaks volumes. Saul's initial silence indicates a brewing storm, a moment of internal calculation before his anger fully manifests. This can be a warning sign in relationships, signaling unexpressed tensions or growing resentment.

The passage ultimately underscores the tragic decline of King Saul, whose heart was increasingly hardened by jealousy and fear, leading him further away from God's will and into conflict with those around him, including his own son Jonathan and the anointed future king, David.