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1 Samuel 20:5

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And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow [is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at even.

And David {H1732} said {H559} unto Jonathan {H3083}, Behold, to morrow {H4279} is the new moon {H2320}, and I should not fail {H3427} to sit {H3427} with the king {H4428} at meat {H398}: but let me go {H7971}, that I may hide {H5641} myself in the field {H7704} unto the third {H7992} day at even {H6153}.

David answered Y'honatan, "Look, tomorrow is Rosh-Hodesh, and I ought to be dining with the king. Instead, let me go and hide myself in the countryside until evening of the third day.

So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I am supposed to dine with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field until the third evening from now.

And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Samuel 20:5 (KJV)

This verse opens a pivotal conversation between David and Jonathan, revealing the escalating danger David faces from King Saul and the profound depth of their friendship. David, aware of Saul's murderous intentions, proposes a plan to ascertain the king's true disposition.

Context

At this point in the narrative, King Saul's jealousy and attempts on David's life have become increasingly overt and frequent. David has already fled Saul's presence multiple times. Jonathan, Saul's son, remains fiercely loyal to David, despite the conflict it creates with his own father. The immediate setting is a scheme proposed by David to Jonathan to test Saul's intentions during a significant religious and social event: the new moon feast.

Key Themes

  • Imminent Danger: David's life is clearly at risk, necessitating a careful strategy for survival. His decision to hide underscores the severity of Saul's animosity.
  • Strategic Planning: David and Jonathan are actively devising a plan to discern Saul's true feelings, rather than passively waiting for events to unfold. This demonstrates their wisdom and foresight.
  • Covenant Friendship: This verse is part of a larger demonstration of the extraordinary covenant friendship between David and Jonathan. Jonathan's willingness to risk his own standing and safety for David's sake is a central theme of this chapter.
  • Observance vs. Survival: David acknowledges his expected duty to attend the royal feast for the new moon but prioritizes his safety above rigid adherence to custom, illustrating a practical wisdom in dangerous circumstances.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "new moon" translates the Hebrew word chodesh (חֹדֶשׁ), which refers to the first day of the lunar month. This was a significant religious festival in ancient Israel, marked by special sacrifices and communal meals, often attended by the king and his court (Numbers 28:11, Colossians 2:16). David's expected presence at this feast highlights his position and the potential for his absence to reveal Saul's reaction. The KJV term "meat" here simply means a meal or food in general, not specifically animal flesh.

Practical Application

1 Samuel 20:5 offers several insights for modern believers:

  • Discerning Danger: David's proactive approach to discerning Saul's intentions reminds us of the importance of spiritual discernment and wisdom in navigating potentially harmful situations.
  • The Value of True Friendship: The unwavering loyalty and strategic support offered by Jonathan to David exemplify the profound importance of faithful friends who stand with us in times of trial.
  • Prioritizing Safety and Wisdom: While adherence to custom and duty is often good, there are times when personal safety and wisdom dictate a different course, especially when lives are at stake.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 10:10 (6 votes)

    Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I [am] the LORD your God.

  • 1 Samuel 19:2 (5 votes)

    But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret [place], and hide thyself:

  • Numbers 28:11 (5 votes)

    And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;

  • Psalms 81:3 (3 votes)

    Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

  • 1 Samuel 20:6 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Proverbs 22:3 (2 votes)

    ¶ A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

  • John 8:59 (2 votes)

    Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.