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1 Samuel 23:16

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 23:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Jonathan, Saul`s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Jonathan, Saul`s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
1 Samuel 23:16 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14And David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.
16And Jonathan, Saul`s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18And they two made a covenant before Jehovah: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
← 1 Samuel 23:151 Samuel 23:17 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, etc.] And came from Gibeah, which, according to Bunting f465, was twenty two miles from the place where David was: and went to David into the wood: having had intelligence where he was, this being a proper place to have an interview with him privately: and strengthened his hand in God; and his heart too, his hand of faith to lay hold on God, as his covenant God and lean and rely upon him; he strengthened him in his power and in his providence, and in his promises to him; the Targum is, “he strengthened him in the Word of the Lord;” not only in his word and promise, but in Christ the essential Word of God, who should spring from him according to the flesh.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Jonathan went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God--by the recollection of their mutual covenant. What a victory over natural feelings and lower considerations must the faith of Jonathan have won, before he could seek such an interview and give utterance to such sentiments! To talk with calm and assured confidence of himself and family being superseded by the man who was his friend by the bonds of a holy and solemn covenant, could only have been done by one who, superior to all views of worldly policy, looked at the course of things in the spirit and through the principles of that theocracy which acknowledged God as the only and supreme Sovereign of Israel. Neither…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A touching example of mutual fidelity between friends. The humility and unselfish love of Jonathan is apparent in 1 Samuel 23:17. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And strengthened - He comforted and supported him against all his fears, by minding him of God's infallible promises made to him, and his singular providence which hitherto had and still would be with him. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 23:17”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:16 Jonathan . . . encouraged David because he knew that God had chosen David to be king.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“strengthened: Deu 3:28; Neh 2:18; Job 4:3, Job 4:4, Job 16:5; Pro 27:9, Pro 27:17; Ecc 4:9-12; Isa 35:3, Isa 35:4; Eze 13:22; Luk 22:32, Luk 22:43; Eph 6:10; Ti2 2:1; Heb 12:12, Heb 12:13 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 23:17”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification