All that is given of the conversation between the two friends is the parting word spoken by Jonathan to David: "Go in peace. What we two have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever:" sc., let it stand, or let us abide by it. The clause contains an aposiopesis, which may be accounted for from Jonathan's deep emotion, and in which the apodosis may be gathered from the sense. For it is evident, from a comparison of 1 Samuel 20:23, that the expression "for ever" must be understood as forming part of the oath. - 1 Samuel 21:1. David then set out upon his journey, and Jonathan returned to the town. This verse ought, strictly speaking, to form the conclusion of 1 Samuel 20.

(Note: In our English version it does; but in the Hebrew, which is followed here, it forms the opening verse of 1 Samuel 21:1-15. In the exposition of the following chapter it has been thought better to follow the numbering of the verses in our version rather than that of the original, although the latter is conformed to the Hebrew. - Tr.)

The subject to "arose" is David; not because Jonathan was the last one spoken of (Thenius), but because the following words, "and Jonathan came," etc., are in evident antithesis to "he arose and went."

1 Samuel 21:6 Parallel Commentaries

gave him

Matthew 12:3,4 But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he was an hungered, and they that were with him...

Mark 2:25-27 And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him...

Luke 6:3,4 And Jesus answering them said, Have you not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungered...

hot bread

Leviticus 24:5-9 And you shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake...