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1 Samuel 20 · a question people ask

Did Jonathan know David would be king?

In the text

In this chapter Jonathan doesn't say it in so many words. He says, "May the LORD be with you as he has been with my father" (20:13), and he asks David not to cut off his kindness from his house "when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth" (20:15). Saul says it plainly to him: "For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom" (20:31). Three chapters later Jonathan says it himself: "you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also" (23:17). 1 Samuel doesn't say whether Jonathan knew that Samuel had anointed David "in the middle of his brothers" (16:13).

The verses

“The LORD do so to Jonathan and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in peace. May the LORD be with you as he has been with my father.”
1 Samuel 20:13 · World English Bible
“but you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth.””
1 Samuel 20:15 · World English Bible
“For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!””
1 Samuel 20:31 · World English Bible
“He said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.””
1 Samuel 23:17 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20: The kindness of the LORD

Jonathan asked David for "the loving kindness of the LORD" (20:14), for his house forever (20:15). At Saul's table David's place was empty (20:25); years later David told Jonathan's son, "I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake" and "You will eat bread at my table continually" (2 Samuel 9:7). In Hebrew both kindnesses are chesed.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions