Definition: And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, [even] upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saulâs side, and Davidâs place was empty.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from 1 Samuel 20:25. It describes a moment of leadership and a bit of tension in the story. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it’s about Saul’s seating arrangements. “And the king sat upon his seat…” – This tells us that Saul, the King of Israel, was sitting in a formal position, like he would usually be. “…as at other times, [even] upon a seat by the wall.” - This is the key part. It’s saying that Saul was sitting like he had been before, but this time, he was sitting near a wall. Now, let's add some context: This passage happens after Saul has been tricked into trusting Abner, who is his advisor. Abner tries to trick Saul into giving him the throne. Saul is suspicious and starts to think that Abner is trying to undermine him. “Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty.” – This describes what happened next. Jonathan, Saul’s brother, rises up and sits beside Saul. And, crucially, David's place is empty . What does this all mean? It suggests a few things: Suspicion and Tension: Saul is feeling uneasy because he suspects Abner is trying to manipulate him. A Moment of Observation: The passage shows Saul observing his advisor, Jonathan, and Abner who is sitting near him. It’s a moment where he's taking notice of the situation. In short, it’s a snapshot of a tense moment where Saul is aware of his advisor's presence and plotting against him. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the significance of this passage in the larger story of Samuel?