1 Samuel 20 25

1 Samuel 20:25 kjv

And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

1 Samuel 20:25 nkjv

Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.

1 Samuel 20:25 niv

He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David's place was empty.

1 Samuel 20:25 esv

The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.

1 Samuel 20:25 nlt

He sat at his usual place against the wall, with Jonathan sitting opposite him and Abner beside him. But David's place was empty.

1 Samuel 20 verses

1 Samuel 20 25 Meaning

This verse describes the seating arrangement at King Saul's monthly New Moon feast, highlighting Saul's customary position of authority. It notably details the presence of key figures like Abner (Saul's commander) by Saul's side and subtly references Jonathan's movement within the court. The central and most significant point is the explicit declaration that "David's place was empty," which serves as a critical signal of his pre-arranged absence and confirms the perilous state of his relationship with King Saul.

1 Samuel 20 25 Context

This verse is central to chapter 20, detailing a pre-arranged signal between David and Jonathan to determine King Saul's true intentions towards David. David, having narrowly escaped Saul's repeated attempts on his life, is in hiding and relies on Jonathan, his loyal friend and Saul's son, to gauge whether he can safely return to court. The occasion is the bi-day Feast of the New Moon, a significant monthly religious festival where all members of the royal court, including David (as the king's son-in-law and army commander), were expected to be present. Saul, Jonathan, and Abner are at the feast, setting the scene for David's deliberate and conspicuous absence. This specific verse reveals the moment when the participants assemble, confirming that David's empty seat becomes the pivotal point for observing Saul's reaction. Historically, royal banquets were formal events where seating positions conveyed status and hierarchy, making David's non-attendance an unmistakable statement and, from Saul's paranoid perspective, an act of rebellion.

1 Samuel 20 25 Word analysis

• And the king sat: (וַיֵּשֶׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ, wayyēšev hammelekh) The verb "sat" emphasizes a settled, deliberate action. Saul is presented in his role as king, physically asserting his customary presence and authority. His sitting signifies stability, though ironically, his reign is far from stable.

• upon his seat: (עַל־מוֹשָׁבוֹ, ʿal môšābōw) Refers to his designated royal chair, not just any seat. This highlights his established position of authority and implies the formality of the royal feast setting. It underscores that this was a regular, expected custom.

• as at other times: (כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם, kīvāvāt pēsaʿ) Literally "as time by time" or "as at time and again." This phrase emphasizes the routine and regularity of the event, reinforcing the normalcy of the king's attendance and making David's absence stand out all the more conspicuously.

• even upon a seat by the wall: (עַל־מוֹשַׁב הַחוֹמָה, ʿal môšāb hammurâh or possibly בִּירָה, birāh) "By the wall" could denote a position of prominence, a secure location, or a specific customary royal place within the hall. Some interpretations suggest it refers to the seat in the main citadel/palace. Regardless, it underscores that Saul occupied his formal and central position, from which David's expected attendance would be easily observed.

• and Jonathan arose: (וַיָּקָם יוֹנָתָן, wayyaqōm yônāthān) This rising can be interpreted in a few ways:

  • Subtle Reaction: Jonathan might have stood due to discomfort or to quietly acknowledge David's absence or the seating arrangement's implications.
  • Custom: It could also be a polite custom for the king's son or a general's son to stand in the presence of or when an esteemed figure like Abner sits, especially at a formal event. This small action signals a subtle shift or anticipation.

• and Abner sat by Saul's side: (וַיֵּשֶׁב אַבְנֵר מִצַּד שָׁאוּל, wayyēšev 'avnēr miṭsrād-shā'ûl) Abner was Saul's cousin and commander of his army, holding the highest military rank and enjoying Saul's favor. His seating immediately next to the king signifies his extreme closeness and high status within Saul's inner circle. This positioning is a contrast to David, who was recently in this prominent favor, highlighting the shift in dynamics.

• and David's place was empty: (וּמְקוֹם דָּוִד נָקִי, ûm qôm dāwiḏ nāqî) This is the climax of the verse. The Hebrew word "naqi" (נָקִי) means "empty," "clear," or "clean." Here, it explicitly denotes the vacancy of David's usual, highly significant seat. This physical emptiness is laden with dramatic tension; it serves as a stark visual confirmation for Saul that David is not present, fulfilling the pre-arranged sign between David and Jonathan, and indicating the depth of Saul's wrath and David's predicament.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall": This phrase establishes the king's dominant and customary presence in his fixed place of authority. It underscores the formality and predictability of the royal gathering, making the ensuing anomaly (David's absence) all the more striking against this backdrop of routine and expected order.
  • "and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side": This shows the immediate inner circle around the king. Jonathan's rising action, though brief, can be seen as an intuitive response to the tension or as part of court protocol, perhaps emphasizing his attentiveness to the proceedings. Abner's prominent position next to Saul highlights his unquestioning loyalty and strategic importance, further defining the composition of Saul's primary support system at this critical moment.
  • "and David's place was empty": This culminating phrase is the dramatic pivot. The explicit mention of David's specific empty seat—a seat that should have been occupied by the king's son-in-law, his champion, and military commander—conspicuously draws attention to his deliberate absence. It confirms the precariousness of David's situation and triggers the unfolding of Saul's deep-seated paranoia and fury. This emptiness symbolizes not only David's physical flight but also the symbolic vacating of God's favor from Saul's court, foreshadowing the eventual transfer of kingship.

1 Samuel 20 25 Bonus section

• The empty seat also foreshadows the temporary departure of King David from Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15:13-17), when he literally fled his throne.
• This verse provides an example of meticulous biblical writing where a seemingly small detail—a seating arrangement and an empty spot—carries immense dramatic and theological weight, driving the plot forward and illustrating the unfolding of divine sovereignty amidst human conflict.
• In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a deliberate absence from a royal summons or feast could be interpreted as a grave insult, a sign of disloyalty, or even a declaration of rebellion, thus explaining Saul's immediate and extreme reaction in the subsequent verses.
• The Feast of the New Moon itself was a time of religious communion and rejoicing, meant to draw the people together. David's absence disrupts this communal peace, indicative of the internal strife plaguing Israel due to Saul's actions.

1 Samuel 20 25 Commentary

1 Samuel 20:25 is a masterstroke of concise narrative, building palpable tension with meticulous detail. The description of King Saul seated in his customary place ("as at other times," "by the wall") firmly establishes the ritual and predictable nature of the New Moon feast, an event where David, as a high-ranking member of the court, was expected to be present. This emphasis on routine elevates David's absence from a mere oversight to a glaring and significant breach of custom, laden with pre-planned meaning.

Jonathan's simple action of "arose" and Abner's close seating "by Saul's side" serve to define the intimate circle around the king, contrasting the king's current loyalties with the significant gap left by David. Jonathan's movement, whether a polite deferment or an expression of discomfort, subtly underlines the tension. Abner's proximity signifies the strength of Saul's traditional, power-based support.

The true dramatic weight rests on "David's place was empty." This simple declaration, echoing in the narrative, is profoundly significant. For Saul, it confirms his suspicion (or paranoia) that David is disloyal or plotting against him, fueling his escalating rage. For Jonathan, it confirms David's desperate need for continued hiding and signals the truth of Saul's murderous intentions, as they had pre-arranged. Beyond the characters, this emptiness represents a divine pronouncement: the beginning of a palpable void in Saul's reign, marking the spiritual decline of his kingdom as God’s chosen successor, David, is conspicuously absent, waiting for God’s appointed time. It is a moment where absence speaks louder than any presence, signifying the unraveling of Saul's rule and the ushering in of David's era through providential unfolding.