When you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when this started, and remain by the stone Ezel.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. Morrow. Hebrew “and after three days ( Bible. or, on the third day) thou shalt,” and so forth Syr. and Arab. “Thou wilt be called for at table, at the third hour.” Calmet.—Septuagint use the same word, τρισσευσεις, as in the following verse: “I will shoot thrice at wild beasts, with arrows, sending as far as Laarmattarai,” so here they may insinuate that David must “wait three days,” ( Bible.) or come on each of these days, that he may not slip an opportunity. Cajet.—Work. Le Clerc translates, “in the day of the business.” Prot. “where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.” Septuagint Alex. “by this affair.” Vat. “Ergab,” a word which Grabe admits instead of εργον, in his edition. Bible.—Other copies, with the Syr. and Arab. have simply, “near this stone,” which Junius styles speculam, as if it were a butt or landmark, ( Calmet.) or a stone to shew the road, (Lyran) or mile-stone, ( Tirinus.) which latter supposition is not probable, as David desired to be concealed. Menochius.—He would therefore choose some cavern, so as to be able to hear what Jonathan said, without being seen. Bible.—This precaution was necessary for the safety of both. Menochius.