שמואל א, פרק כ׳, פסוק ל״ד

A storm of emotions and an open rift erupt at King Saul's table, marking the moment the fate of Jonathan and David's friendship is sealed. It becomes undeniably clear that David's life is in immediate danger. On the second day of the new moon festival [מצודת דוד, רד״ק], Jonathan abruptly rises from the meal in fierce anger. His refusal to eat is driven by a heavy mixture of rage, sadness, and shame [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Two distinct forces fuel Jonathan's emotional turmoil: grief over David's fate and the public humiliation inflicted by his father. The primary approach among commentators suggests that Jonathan suffers from two separate wounds. The first and most significant is his profound sorrow for David. Jonathan finally realizes that Saul is fully determined to cause his friend harm, meaning the two must now separate so David can run for his life. The second wound is the intense personal insult Jonathan just endured, both from his father's harsh, degrading words and the physical threat of having a spear thrown at him [רלב״ג, רד״ק, אברבנאל, מצודת דוד].

Other commentators argue that Jonathan's grief is entirely focused on David. In this view, the humiliation he suffers from his father does not upset him on a personal level. Rather, the insult only hurts because it is a direct consequence of his choice to defend his friend [רש״י, מלבי״ם]. Taking this a step further, another perspective highlights a sharp contrast between Jonathan's internal feelings and his outward display. Deep down, his sorrow stems exclusively from his desperate concern for David. Yet, to those watching in the royal court, Jonathan purposefully creates the illusion that his anger and refusal to eat are simply reactions to his father's personal insult. By projecting this outward offense, he successfully conceals his true underlying motive and his deep loyalty to David [חומת אנך].