(96)  He  shot  an  arrow  beyond  him.— This  was
the  sign  agreed  on  if  all  was  over  for  David  at  the  court
of  SauL  Expositors  aro  in  a  little  difficulty,  though,
hero,  as  only  one  arrow  is  mentioned,  wheroas  "  three  "
had  to  be  shot  according  to  the  terms  of  the  under-
standing. We  cannot  imagine,  as  some  have  suggested,
that  "Jonathan  shortened  tne  aifair,  and  shot  only  once,
considering  that  thero  was  danger  in  delay,"  and  that  every
moment  was  of  consequence ;  had  there  been  such  neea
of  haste,  the  parting  scene  would  have  been  cut  even
shorter.  It  is  better,  with  Keil,  to  assume  that  the
"singular"  hero  stands  in  an  indefinite  general  way,
the  author  not  thinking  it  needful,  after  what  he  had
beforo  said,  to  stete  tl»t  Jonathan  shot  three  arrows
one  after  another.
(38)  Make  speed,  haste,  stay  not.— Alihouffh
Jonathan,  of  course,  trusted  to  a  certain  extent  the
youth  (probably  an  armour-bearer)  who  was  with  him,
still  he  hurriea  this  attendant  away,  that  he  might  not
see  David,  who  was  close  by  in  hiohig,  and  who,  after
the  sign,  would  presently  appear  in  sight.  The  next
clause  (verse  99)  expressly  tells  us  how  this  meeting
was  unknown  and  unwitnessed.  The  youth  was  sent  to
the  city  that  Jonathan  might  be  alone  once  more  with
David.
