1 Samuel 20:12 - Forerunner Commentary

1 Samuel 20:12

10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly?”

11 And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out into the field.

12 Then Jonathan said to David: “The Lord God of Israel is witness! When I have¹ sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,

13 may ^athe Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And ^bthe Lord be with you as He has ^cbeen with my father.

14 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die;

15 but ^ayou shall not cut off your kindness from my² house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”

16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the¹ house of David, saying, ^a“Let the Lord require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”

17 Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; ^afor he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to David, ^a“Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

19 And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to ^athe place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel.

Verse Comparison: 1 Samuel 20:12

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American Standard Version
And Jonathan said unto David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, `be witness': when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, `or' the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?

Amplified® Bible
Jonathan said to David, The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness. When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well inclined toward David, and I do not send and let you know it,

Contemporary English Version
Jonathan said: I swear by the LORD God of Israel, that two days from now I'll know what my father is planning. Of course I'll let you know if he's friendly toward you.

Darby English Version
And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah, God of Israel, when I sound my father about this time to-morrow, [or] the next day, and behold, there be good toward David, and I then send not to thee, and apprise thee of it,

Good News Bible
and Jonathan said to David, "May the LORD God of Israel be our witness! At this time tomorrow and on the following day I will question my father. If his attitude toward you is good, I will send you word.

King James Version
And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee;

New American Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, {be witness!} When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, {or} the third day, behold, if there is good {feeling} toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you?

New International Version
Then Jonathan said to David: "By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know?

New King James Version
Then Jonathan said to David: “The LORD God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, witnesses for me! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he has good feelings toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you?

Revised Standard Version
And Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?

Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan saith unto David, `Jehovah, God of Israel -- when I search my father, about `this' time to-morrow `or' the third `day', and lo, good `is' towards David, and I do not then send unto thee, and have uncovered thine ear --

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