1 Samuel 20:31

Amharic New Standard Translation (አማርኛ አዲሱ መደበኛ ትርጉም) 2005

የእሴይ ልጅ በሕይወት እስካለ ድረስ አንተና መንግሥትህ ጸንታችሁ ለመኖር እንደማትችሉ አታውቅምን? አሁን ሄደህ አምጣው! እርሱ በሞት መቀጣት አለበት!”

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, King Saul is speaking to his son Jonathan, threatening that as long as David, the son of Jesse, is alive, he will not be safe or secure in his kingdom. Saul demands that David be brought to him to be killed.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a friend who is really good at a game, and you're scared that you'll lose to them. So, you tell your other friend to get rid of your friend so you can win. That's what King Saul is doing here, but with a much more serious situation.

Historical Background

This verse is part of the Book of 1 Samuel, written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, and it was recorded around 1000 BCE. It describes the relationship between King Saul, who is insecure about his position, and David, who is favored by God.

Living It Out Today

In modern terms, this verse can be seen as a cautionary tale about jealousy and insecurity. For example, a colleague at work might feel threatened by another colleague's success and try to sabotage their career.

Topics

• jealousy
• power
• loyalty
• conflict
• royalty
• betrayal

Related Verses

• 1 Samuel 18:8-9
• 2 Samuel 15:13-14
• 1 Kings 2:8-9
• Romans 12:14
• Psalm 109:4-5

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Saul so threatened by David?

Saul was threatened by David because he believed David was a threat to his kingdom and power. David's success and popularity made Saul feel insecure about his position as king.

How did Jonathan respond to Saul's demands?

Jonathan, who was David's close friend, did not comply with Saul's demands and even helped David to avoid Saul's wrath.

What can we learn about loyalty from this verse?

We can learn that true loyalty involves standing up for what is right, even when it means opposing those in power, as seen in Jonathan's actions towards David.

How does this verse relate to the theme of jealousy?

This verse clearly illustrates how jealousy can drive a person to extreme actions. Saul's jealousy of David's success and favor with God drives his desire to eliminate David.