1 Samuel 20:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Samuel 20:6
6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
Chapter Context
1 Samuel 20 is a biographical narrative chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of redemption, worship, love. Written during the transition to monarchy (c. 1050-1010 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Israel transitioned from tribal confederacy to monarchy while facing Philistine military pressure.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-42: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Samuel and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Samuel 20:6
6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
Analysis
If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
The prepared excuse - David's attendance at a 'yearly sacrifice' in Bethlehem - used religious obligation to explain absence. Such family sacrifices were legitimate obligations, making the cover story plausible. Jonathan would claim David had 'earnestly asked' (nish'ol nish'al) - intensive Hebrew emphasizing repeated, passionate request. The statement was literally true: David did need to be elsewhere. Yet the stated reason concealed the actual purpose. While Scripture records without condemning, the episode shows how Saul's violence forced others into deception for survival.
Historical Context
Family sacrifices at ancestral locations were regular religious observances. Jesse's family in Bethlehem would have held such gatherings annually. Permission to attend family religious obligations was normally granted to court servants. The story exploited Saul's potential religious scruples.
Reflection
- How do you evaluate the ethics of protective deception in life-threatening situations?
- What does this passage reveal about how one person's violence corrupts the moral choices of others?
Word Studies
- Sacrifice: זֶבַח (Zevach) H2077 - Sacrifice, offering
Cross-References
- References David: 1 Samuel 17:58
- Sacrifice: 1 Samuel 9:12