1 Samuel 20:41

“[And] as soon as the lad was gone, etc.] Which David could observe from his lurking place: David arose out of [a place] toward the south; to the south of the field in which he was hid, or to the south of the stone Ezel, near which he was; and so the Targum, “and David arose from the side of the stone Atha, which was towards the south;” Jonathan shooting his arrows to the north of it, lest the lad should have discovered David when he ran for them: and fell on his face to the ground; in reverence of Jonathan, as the son of a king, and in respect to him as his friend, who had so faithfully served him, and was so concerned to save his life: and bowed himself three times: this was before he fell…”

“JONATHAN AND DAVID LOVINGLY PART. (Sa1 20:41-42) David . . . fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times--a token of homage to the prince's rank; but on a close approach, every other consideration was sunk in the full flow of the purest brotherly affection.”

“A place toward the south - An unintelligible description; one expects a repetition of the description of David’s hiding-place in 1 Samuel 20:19. The Septuagint in both places has “argab,” a word meaning a “heap of stones.” If this be the true reading, David’s hiding-place was either a natural cavernous rock which was called “Argab,” or some ruin of an ancient building, equally suited for a hiding-place. Bowed himself three times - In token, doubtless, of his unshaken loyalty to Jonathan as the son of his king, as well as his friend; and in acknowledgment of Jonathan’s power to kill him if he saw fit. (Compare Genesis 33:3). David exceeded - His affection for Jonathan, coupled with his sense…”

“20:41 David bowed: Jonathan had the higher social rank, so David’s homage was fitting. • Both of them were in tears: For the first time, the record of the emotion between these two men shows mutuality (see 18:1, 3-4; 20:17).”

“and fell: Sa1 25:23; Gen 43:28; Sa2 9:6 and they kissed: Sa1 10:1; Gen 29:11, Gen 29:13, Gen 45:15; Sa2 19:39; Act 20:37 David exceeded: Sa1 18:3; Sa2 1:26 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 20:42”