Jonathan’s plan secures David’s safety by orchestrating a covert signal at the stone Ezel, demonstrating deep friendship and providing a path for David to evade Saul’s misguided rage.
“When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel.” (1 Samuel 20:19). Jonathan spoke these words to David, instructing him to hide for a short period and then wait at a specific landmark known as the stone Ezel. This location, likely near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, served as a secret rendezvous point where Jonathan could communicate King Saul’s intentions. In the overall story, David had become a trusted servant of King Saul but, through Saul’s growing jealousy and paranoia, found his life in danger. Jonathan, Saul’s son, remained loyal to David and devised this plan so David could safely learn whether King Saul intended to harm him (1 Samuel 18:10-11, 19:9-10, 20:1).David’s presence at the stone Ezel also underscored the peril of his situation. Even though he was anointed to be the future king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12), David was forced to flee the current king’s wrath. Jonathan’s instructions in this verse reveal the depth of his friendship with David, as well as their commitment to honor the Lord’s chosen king. Historically, David lived around 1010-970 BC, while Saul’s reign began around 1050 BC. Jonathan, serving as a heroic figure in his own right, risked much to guard David from harm. Moreover, David’s faith in God was steadfast, even as he resorted to hiding in places like this stone marker, waiting for Jonathan’s signal (1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 24:1-7).This moment at the stone Ezel shows the tension between King Saul and David, while highlighting the steadfast loyalty between Jonathan and David—pointing forward to David’s eventual kingship and God’s protection of His anointed.
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1 Samuel 20:19 meaning
“When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel.” (1 Samuel 20:19). Jonathan spoke these words to David, instructing him to hide for a short period and then wait at a specific landmark known as the stone Ezel. This location, likely near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, served as a secret rendezvous point where Jonathan could communicate King Saul’s intentions. In the overall story, David had become a trusted servant of King Saul but, through Saul’s growing jealousy and paranoia, found his life in danger. Jonathan, Saul’s son, remained loyal to David and devised this plan so David could safely learn whether King Saul intended to harm him (1 Samuel 18:10-11, 19:9-10, 20:1).David’s presence at the stone Ezel also underscored the peril of his situation. Even though he was anointed to be the future king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12), David was forced to flee the current king’s wrath. Jonathan’s instructions in this verse reveal the depth of his friendship with David, as well as their commitment to honor the Lord’s chosen king. Historically, David lived around 1010-970 BC, while Saul’s reign began around 1050 BC. Jonathan, serving as a heroic figure in his own right, risked much to guard David from harm. Moreover, David’s faith in God was steadfast, even as he resorted to hiding in places like this stone marker, waiting for Jonathan’s signal (1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 24:1-7).This moment at the stone Ezel shows the tension between King Saul and David, while highlighting the steadfast loyalty between Jonathan and David—pointing forward to David’s eventual kingship and God’s protection of His anointed.