1 Samuel 20:37

And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

1 Samuel 20:37. When the lad was come to the place — That is, near to the place: or, and the lad went; or, was going on to the place; for the words following show that he was not yet come thither. The Hebrew word בואbo, signifies either to come or to go. See Ruth 3:7; and Jonah 1:3.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:35-42 The separation of two such faithful friends was grievous to both, but David's case was the more deplorable, for David was leaving all his comforts, even those of God's sanctuary. Christians need not sorrow, as men without hope; but being one with Christ, they are one with each other, and will meet in his presence ere long, to part no more; to meet where all tears shall be wiped from their eyes.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The greatest insult and most stinging reproach that can be cast upon an Oriental is to reproach his parents or ancestors (see Job 30:8). Saul means to intimate that Jonathan was stubborn from his mother's womb.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

36. he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot—The direction given aloud to the attendant was the signal preconcerted with David. It implied danger.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

To the place, i.e. near to the place. Or, and the lad went, or was going on to the place; for the words following show the he was not yet come thither. The Hebrew verb bo, which properly signifies to come, sometimes signifies to go; as here, and Ruth 3:7 Jonah 1:3.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot,.... To the mark which he told him he should shoot at, and whereabout he might expect to find the arrow:

Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, is not the arrow beyond thee? he cried with a loud voice and said this, not so much that the lad might hear him, but that David, who lay hid near the place, might hear him; so that if they had no opportunity of seeing and conversing with each other through any person going by at that time, David might know by this sign that evil was determined against him, and must flee for his life; the Syriac and Vulgate Latin versions read, "behold, the arrow is beyond thee"; so Noldius (k).

(k) Concord. Ebr. Part. p. 265. No. 1141.

Geneva Study Bible

And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

1 Samuel 20:37

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

When the boy came to the place of the shot arrow (i.e., to the place to which the arrow had flown), Jonathan called after him, "See, the arrow is (lies) away from thee, farther off;" and again, "Quickly, haste, do not stand still," that he might not see David, who was somewhere near; and the boy picked up the arrow and came to his lord. The Chethibh החצי is evidently the original reading, and the singular is to be understood as in 1 Samuel 20:37; the Keri החצּים is an emendation, according to the meaning of the words. The writer here introduces the remark in 1 Samuel 20:39, that the boy knew nothing of what had been arranged between Jonathan and David.