1 Samuel 20:27

25 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.

26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?

28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:

29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But on the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal either yesterday or today?”
KJV
And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
WEB
On the next day after the new moon, the second day, David’s place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why didn’t the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday, or today?”
ASV
And it came to pass on the morrow after the new moon, [which was] the second [day], that David`s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to-day?
DARBY
And it came to pass the next day after the new moon, the second [day of the month], as David's place was empty, that Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has not the son of Jesse come to table, neither yesterday nor to-day?
BLB
And it came to pass on the next day, the second of the New Moon, that the place of David was found empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come either yesterday or today to eat?”
ÅB
Men da Davids plass også den neste dag - dagen etter nymåne - var tom, sa Saul til Jonatan, sin sønn: Hvorfor er Isais sønn hverken igår eller idag kommet til måltidet?
OTB
Og det skjedde neste dag, den andre dagen av nymånen, at Davids plass var tom. Så sa Saul til Jonatan, hans sønn: "Hvorfor har ikke Isais sønn kommet til måltidet, verken i går eller i dag?"
B1930
Men da Davids plass også den næste dag - dagen efter nymåne - var tom, sa Saul til Jonatan, sin sønn: Hvorfor er Isais sønn hverken igår eller idag kommet til måltidet?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 19:15

    And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 13:55

    Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 25:10

    And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 11:1–2

    And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 22:7–9

    Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 18:11

    And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 2:4

    To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 19:9–10

    And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

    Read in context