1 Samuel 20:6

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 sacrifice there for all the family.

If thy father {H1} at all {H6485} miss {H6485} me, then say {H559}, David {H1732} earnestly {H7592} asked {H7592} leave of me that he might run {H7323} to Bethlehem {H1035} his city {H5892}: for there is a yearly {H3117} sacrifice {H2077} there for all the family {H4940}.

If your father misses me at all, say, 'David begged me to let him hurry to Beit-Lechem, his city; because it's the annual sacrifice there for his whole family.'

If your father misses me at all, tell him, โ€˜David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.โ€™

If thy father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

Commentary

1 Samuel 20:6 is a pivotal verse in the unfolding drama between David, Jonathan, and King Saul, illustrating a strategic deception orchestrated to protect David's life from Saul's murderous intent. In this verse, David outlines the specific excuse Jonathan is to give King Saul if David's absence from the king's table is noticed: that David "earnestly asked leave" to attend a crucial family sacrifice in Bethlehem.

Context

This verse is part of an urgent conversation between David and Jonathan, who are attempting to ascertain the true depth of King Saul's hatred for David. David is in hiding, fearing for his life due to Saul's increasing paranoia and jealousy (as seen in 1 Samuel 19:1). The upcoming new moon feast at the king's table presents an opportunity to test Saul's reaction to David's absence. David instructs Jonathan on the specific alibi to give Saul: that David sought permission to go to Bethlehem for a yearly family sacrifice. This carefully crafted excuse leverages a legitimate Israelite custom to explain David's disappearance, aiming to gauge whether Saul's anger is truly directed at David or merely a passing mood.

Key Themes

  • Loyalty and Friendship: The verse powerfully highlights the extraordinary bond between Jonathan and David. Jonathan's willingness to participate in this deception and potentially incur his own father's wrath underscores his unwavering commitment and deep love for his friend, even at great personal risk.
  • Strategic Deception: Faced with a life-threatening situation, David and Jonathan resort to a calculated deception. This raises complex ethical questions about truthfulness in extreme circumstances where lives are at stake, showing the lengths to which individuals may go for self-preservation or to protect loved ones.
  • Religious and Cultural Customs: The mention of a "yearly sacrifice" in Bethlehem points to the significant role of family and tribal religious observances in ancient Israel. These were not merely rituals but vital social gatherings that reinforced community bonds and spiritual identity, making the excuse a plausible one.
  • Saul's Volatility: The entire setup of this test reveals the unpredictable and dangerous nature of King Saul's jealousy and paranoia, which had tragically consumed him since David's rise to prominence.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "earnestly asked leave" translates the Hebrew verb ื ึดืฉึฐืืึนืœ ื ึดืฉึฐืืึทืœ (nish'ol nish'al). This is an intensive construction, a reduplication of the verb "to ask," which emphasizes the urgency, sincerity, and earnestness of David's supposed request. It conveys that David pleaded strongly for permission to attend this important family event, making the alibi sound genuinely pressing.

Practical Application

While direct deception is generally discouraged in biblical ethics, this narrative provides insight into the complex moral dilemmas faced by individuals in oppressive or dangerous environments. It underscores the profound value of loyal friendships and the lengths to which true friends will go to protect one another. For believers today, it can be a reminder to pray for wisdom when navigating difficult relationships or threatening situations, and to cherish those who stand by them faithfully, reflecting the divine protection often found through human instruments.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 17:58

    And Saul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou] young man? And David answered, I [am] the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

  • 1 Samuel 9:12

    And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for [there is] a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

  • John 7:42

    Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

  • Deuteronomy 12:5

    ยถ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

  • 1 Samuel 16:2

    And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear [it], he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 16:5

    And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
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