שמואל א, פרק כ׳, פסוק א׳

The realization that even the presence of Samuel the Prophet cannot provide a safe haven from King Saul's relentless pursuit forces David into a desperate escape. Seizing a narrow window of opportunity, David slips away while Saul is completely absorbed and incapacitated by his prophetic state [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. David understands that his current location is no longer secure, knowing that Saul will stop at nothing to hunt him down, regardless of the circumstances [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Seeking refuge, David turns to his closest friend, Jonathan. He makes this choice relying on a deep, absolute trust in his friend's love and loyalty [אברבנאל]. In a pained plea, David tries to uncover the reason for his persecution by categorizing his possible wrongs into two distinct areas. First, he questions whether he has committed any general, private offenses that were not done in Saul's presence. Then, he asks if he has committed even the slightest direct offense against the king or the kingdom itself [מלבי״ם, חומת אנך].

David's desperate cry that his life is in immediate danger highlights a harsh reality. Saul has already made several concrete attempts to murder him, such as throwing a spear, sending guards to his home, and actively chasing him. Yet, this truth stands in direct contrast to Jonathan's understanding of the situation. Jonathan tends to view his father's violent outbursts not as a calculated, genuine plot to murder David, but rather as temporary episodes of illness brought on by a terrifying evil spirit [אברבנאל, אלשיך].