Keraia
1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:26

Jonathan and David Renew Their Covenant · 1 Samuel 20:10–29
Read 1 Samuel 20

Translations

Modern
Saul said nothing that day because he thought, “Something has happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”
Traditional
Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
Literal
And Saul did not say anything on that day, for he said, “Something has happened to that he is not clean; he surely is not clean.”
Latin
Et non est locutus Saul quidquam in die illa: cogitabat enim quod forte evenisset ei, ut non esset mundus, nec purificatus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Saul said nothing that day because he thought, “Something has happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”

Notes

1 Samuel 20:26–27

  • A number of circumstances could render a person ceremonially unclean and thus unfit for attending a sacred festival (see Leviticus 7:2–21). Often, an unclean person was required to be excluded from such functions only until the evening of the same day (Leviticus 15). This explains why Saul became suspicious after David did not arrive the next day.

  • Saul referred to David as the son of Jesse (also in 1 Samuel 20:31; 22:7), a description that functioned as David’s last name.

Events

People

Saul: First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel

Glossary

Altar Covenant David Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Arrow: Shot by Jonathan As a Sign to David Entertainments: Given on Occasions of Festivals Jealousy: Saul, of David Kings: Exercised Great Hospitality Symbols and Similitudes: Bow-Shot by Jonathan