BibleWord.ai› Bible› 1 Samuel› Chapter 20› Verse 13

1 Samuel 20:13

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 20:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jehovah do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jehovah do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
1 Samuel 20:13 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?
11And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
12And 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?
13Jehovah do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not;
15but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David`s enemies.
← 1 Samuel 20:121 Samuel 20:14 →
← Full Chapter 20 1 Samuel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan, etc.] Recompense evil more than can be thought of and expressed, should he neglect to inform David of the good disposition of Saul unto him: but if it please my father [to do] thee evil; if he seems determined upon it to take away thy life: then I will show it thee; not by a messenger, by whom it would not be safe to communicate it, lest by that means Saul would know where he was, and come and slay him; but Jonathan would come himself, and acquaint him with it: and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; give him leave, and advise him to depart, and provide for his own safety, adding his blessing on him, and prayer for him: and the Lord be with…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:13 may the Lord strike me: Jonathan invoked a curse upon himself to reassure David that he would keep his promise. • as he used to be with my father: Jonathan recognized that David had received the blessing from God that his father had once had. The divine favor that had brought Saul into royal office (9:14–10:1) would bring David into royal office as Saul’s replacement. Jonathan accepted this even though he was the natural successor to Saul.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The Lord do: Sa1 3:17, Sa1 25:22; Rut 1:17; Sa2 3:35, Sa2 19:13; Kg1 19:2, Kg1 20:10 the Lord be: Sa1 17:37; Jos 1:5; Ch1 22:11, Ch1 22:16; Mat 28:20; Phi 4:9 he hath been with my father: Sa1 10:7, Sa1 11:6-13, Sa1 14:47; Sa2 7:15 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 20:14”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification