Jonathan Learns the Truth

As they agreed, David hides in the field while Jonathan returns to prepare for the first night of the feast of the New Moon, the festival marking the beginning of a new month (Num. 10:10; 28:11–15; Ezra 3:5). Saul, of course, takes note of David’s empty place, but he reasons that David must have some legitimate excuse for this major violation of court etiquette, perhaps ritual uncleanness. Apparently Saul is so foolish as to think that David has not yet realized that Saul is out to get him. Nevertheless, Saul keeps quiet—until the next day, when David is absent again. At that point, Saul asks Jonathan about David’s whereabouts. Jonathan then presents the alibi David had concocted (vv. 6–7), saying David asked his permission to attend a family sacrifice in Bethlehem, being commanded to come by his oldest brother.

Upon hearing this story, Saul explodes. As Matthew Henry puts it, he “rages like a lion disappointed of his prey.” His anger and frustration fall on Jonathan, and he verbally abuses his son with dreadful insults. First, he calls Jonathan ” ‘You son of a perverse, rebellious woman.’ ” As with contemporary curses, this sounds more like a criticism of Jonathan’s mother, but Saul is saying that Jonathan is behaving as if he is not Saul’s son, for he loves Saul’s enemy. The word rebellious also may imply that Jonathan is a traitor. Second, Saul essentially castigates Jonathan as a fool for throwing his support to David and, in effect, sacrificing what is “rightfully” his—the throne. Again, Saul simply refuses to accept God’s declaration that his successor will not come from his family (13:14). Who, therefore, is the fool—Jonathan, who bows to God’s will, or Saul, who fights against heaven? “Jonathan indeed did wisely and well for himself and family to secure an interest in David, whom heaven had destined to the throne, yet, for this, he is branded as most impolitic,” Henry writes.

Saul demands that Jonathan bring David to him so that he might be killed, but Jonathan insists that Saul provide justification for this death sentence. Hearing this, Saul loses all control and hurls his spear at Jonathan. A moment before he was pleading for Jonathan to pursue the throne; now he is trying to kill his son. At that, Jonathan leaves the table, filled with rage at Saul and grieved for David, for he now sees that the reigning king is full of hate for his anointed successor.