1 Samuel 20:24 kjv
So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
1 Samuel 20:24 nkjv
Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast.
1 Samuel 20:24 niv
So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat.
1 Samuel 20:24 esv
So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
1 Samuel 20:24 nlt
So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon festival began, the king sat down to eat.
1 Samuel 20 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 20:5 | Jonathan said to David, "Behold, tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty." | Foreshadows David's absence at the feast. |
| 1 Sam 20:6 | If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city...' | Explains the planned alibi for David's absence. |
| 1 Sam 20:18-19 | Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed..." | Reinforces the strategic timing of the event. |
| 1 Sam 23:14 | David stayed in the wilderness in strongholds...Saul sought him every day... | Reflects David's consistent state of hiding. |
| Ps 57:1 | Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass away. | David's frequent need for refuge. |
| Ps 32:7 | You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. | God as David's ultimate hiding place. |
| Ps 143:9 | Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I flee to you for refuge. | David's dependence on God in flight. |
| Num 10:10 | On the day of your gladness also, and in your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets... | Describes the New Moon as a joyous feast. |
| Num 28:11-15 | At the beginnings of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the Lord... | Commands specific sacrifices for the New Moon. |
| Lev 23:24 | "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with a blast of trumpets, a holy convocation." | References the special New Moon of the 7th month (Rosh Hashanah). |
| Amos 8:5 | "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale..." | Indicates the New Moon as a day of rest from commerce. |
| 2 Sam 9:7 | "And David said to him, 'Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall always eat at my table.'" | Contrasts Saul's rejection with David's later royal hospitality. |
| 2 Sam 3:29 | May the blood thus fall upon the head of Joab...without end, from the house of Joab who eats at the king's table... | Shows the significance and proximity of those at the king's table. |
| Ps 2:2-3 | The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed... | Reflects the opposition to God's chosen (David). |
| Ps 10:2-4 | In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. | Describes the wicked's pursuit of the righteous. |
| Isa 26:20 | Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath is past. | Call to hide during a time of judgment. |
| Prov 1:16 | For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. | Relates to Saul's intent to shed David's blood. |
| Mat 2:13 | Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you..." | Example of flight from persecution (Jesus). |
| Acts 9:23-25 | When many days were completed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. He guarded the gates day and night so that they might kill him, but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a basket. | Example of being hidden/escaping persecution (Paul). |
| Jer 36:26 | The king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them. | God hiding His servants from wicked rulers. |
| 1 Kgs 18:19 | "Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." | Implies importance and favor for those eating at a royal/influential table. |
1 Samuel 20 verses
1 Samuel 20 24 Meaning
This verse details David's actions according to Jonathan's plan: he hid himself away in a field, awaiting Saul's reaction at the upcoming New Moon festival. As predicted, when the designated time arrived, King Saul took his customary place at the royal table to partake in the ceremonial feast, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation of his murderous intent towards David.
1 Samuel 20 24 Context
This verse occurs within the escalating conflict between King Saul and David, chosen by God as the next king of Israel. Jonathan, Saul's son and David's loyal friend, has devised a plan to ascertain his father's true intentions regarding David's life. The New Moon festival was a significant religious and communal event in Israel, marked by special sacrifices, feasts, and cessation of ordinary work. It was customary for families, including the royal household, to gather for a meal. Jonathan had arranged for David to hide and absent himself from this feast. Saul's reaction to David's empty seat, combined with a pre-arranged signal from Jonathan, would reveal whether Saul genuinely sought to kill David or if his previous threats were mere outbursts. This specific verse describes the execution of the first part of Jonathan's plan: David's strategic absence and Saul's expected attendance at the formal meal.
1 Samuel 20 24 Word analysis
So David hid himself:
- Hebrew: וַיִּתְחַבֵּא דָוִד (vayyitḥabbē' dāwīd).
- "Hid himself" (וַיִּתְחַבֵּא, vayyitḥabbē'): From the Hithpael imperfect of חבא (ḥabā'), meaning to conceal oneself, hide away. The reflexive nature (Hithpael) emphasizes that David actively took steps to hide, in contrast to simply "being hidden." This was a deliberate act of self-preservation, guided by Jonathan's counsel. It underscores the danger David was in.
in the field:
- Hebrew: בַּשָּׂדֶה (bassośdeh).
- This implies a discreet, perhaps desolate or agricultural, area outside the royal court or dwelling place, aligning with a need for secrecy and readiness to flee further. It signifies his exile from Saul's presence.
And when the new moon came:
- Hebrew: וַיְהִי הַחֹדֶשׁ (vayehi haḥōdeš).
- "New moon" (הַחֹדֶשׁ, haḥōdeš): Refers to Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of a new month, observed with religious sacrifices and communal meals (Num 28:11-15). It was a fixed, predictable time, making it suitable for Jonathan's plan to test Saul's temper. Its significance ensures that David's absence would be noticed and questioned.
the king:
- Hebrew: הַמֶּלֶךְ (hammelekh).
- Refers to Saul, the reigning monarch. The definite article "the" highlights his royal authority and position, which he uses to express his hostility.
sat down:
- Hebrew: וַיֵּשֶׁב (vayyēshev).
- From ישׁב (yāshaḇ), to sit, dwell, remain. Here, it denotes taking one's customary place for a meal. The action is deliberate and expected.
to eat:
- Hebrew: לֶאֱכוֹל (le’ĕḵôl).
- Purpose clause, indicating the reason for sitting.
the royal meal:
- Hebrew: לַלֶּחֶם (lalleḥem).
- Literally "for the bread" or "for the food." In this context, "bread" frequently signifies a full meal, particularly a formal or ceremonial one. This implies a significant feast befitting a king and his court, rather than a casual meal. The setting is grand, amplifying the drama of the subsequent events.
So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat the royal meal: This entire sequence shows meticulous planning and execution. David's action of hiding, the arrival of the specific calendrical event (New Moon), and Saul's customary action of dining, all set the stage for the pivotal test of Saul's intentions. It juxtaposes David's vulnerable state of concealment with Saul's public display of power and authority, even as that power is increasingly corrupted by envy.
1 Samuel 20 24 Bonus section
The act of David hiding himself points to a theme of divine protection over God's anointed, even when physical concealment is necessary (Ps 27:5, Ps 31:20). It mirrors instances of God protecting His chosen throughout biblical history, like Jeremiah being hidden (Jer 36:26) or even the infant Christ fleeing to Egypt (Mat 2:13). David's transition from favored courtier to hunted fugitive is fully established here, setting the stage for many of his Psalms reflecting lament, trust, and ultimate deliverance amidst persecution. The contrast between David, God's chosen, in the field and Saul, the rejected king, at the royal table emphasizes a spiritual reality where worldly power and privilege do not equate to divine favor.
1 Samuel 20 24 Commentary
1 Samuel 20:24 marks a pivotal moment in the unfolding drama of David's anointing and Saul's downfall. It portrays David in a position of forced vulnerability, strategically hiding outside the royal court where he once held favor and served prominently. His concealment underscores the life-threatening danger he faced from a king consumed by irrational jealousy. The "New Moon" festival, normally a joyous occasion for communal worship and feasting (as indicated in passages like Numbers 10:10, 28:11-15), is here subverted into a scene for testing murderous intent. Saul's participation in the "royal meal" highlights his continued adherence to ritual, even as his heart departs from divine justice. The scene deliberately sets a stage of deceptive normalcy within the palace, contrasting sharply with David's desolate hiding place. This precise timing, agreed upon by Jonathan and David, allows for a public demonstration of Saul's true character and confirms the necessity of David's continued flight.