1 Samuel 20:5David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening.
The setting
Gibeah, Israel, ~1020 BC. David and Jonathan meet secretly in the palace. Tomorrow's new moon feast will reveal if King Saul truly wants David dead...
The emotion here: calculating desperation - knows this could be his last chance
The original word
chadash (חדש) — new moon, the monthly royal feast when absence would be noticed
Why it matters
New moon feasts were mandatory court events - missing it was like skipping a state dinner
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 20:5
David is asking Jonathan to lie to the king for him - a capital offense
Common misconceptionPeople think David is being cowardly, but he's actually being strategic. Running away isn't always weakness - sometimes it's wisdom.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 20:5
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 20:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 20:5 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include planning, strategy, wisdom. Notable phrases: tomorrow is the new moon; let me go.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 20:5 mean to you, today?
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