The Meaning of 1 Samuel 20:24 Explained

1 Samuel 20:24

KJV: So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

YLT: And David is hidden in the field, and it is the new moon, and the king sitteth down by the food to eat,

Darby: And David hid himself in the field; and it was the new moon, and the king sat at table to eat.

ASV: So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat food.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So David  hid  himself in the field:  and when the new moon  was come, the king  sat him down  to eat  meat. 

What does 1 Samuel 20:24 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 20:17-29 - A Friend At Court
Jonathan most have been strongly tempted to ally himself with his friend, that they might face the world together; but he clung loyally to his father's fortunes, though he knew that he was courting failure and overthrow. At the same time he stood nobly forth at the banquet in defense of his friend. What a rebuke for some of us! The Prince of the kings of the earth is not ashamed to call us brethren, but alas, how often we shrink from acknowledging and confessing Him when in company which refuses to own His supremacy. We are silent when His honor is flouted, we flinch before the rising storm; if we do not take sides against Him, we at least do not speak up on His behalf. Such cowards are we in spite of our covenants!
Saul's jealousy broke out with volcanic vehemence. The king and father abused his son with vile epithets, such as are still employed by Orientals. He demanded David's instant execution, and ended by seeking to take Jonathan's life. Truly it may be said of him, as was afterward said of Judas-Satan had entered into him. Be watchful not to give the smallest foothold to the devil. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 20

1  David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11  Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18  Jonathan's token to David
23  Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35  Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 20:24 mean?

And hid David in the field and when had come the New Moon and sat down the king - upon the feast to eat
וַיִּסָּתֵ֥ר דָּוִ֖ד בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיְהִ֣י הַחֹ֔דֶשׁ וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ [על־] (אֶל־) הַלֶּ֖חֶם לֶאֱכֽוֹל

וַיִּסָּתֵ֥ר  And  hid 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָתַר  
Sense: to hide, conceal.
דָּוִ֖ד  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה  in  the  field 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
וַיְהִ֣י  and  when  had  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַחֹ֔דֶשׁ  the  New  Moon 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב  and  sat  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
[על־]  - 
Parse: Preposition
(אֶל־)  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַלֶּ֖חֶם  the  feast 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לֶאֱכֽוֹל  to  eat 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.