Lexical Summary Ezel: Ezel Original Word: אֶזֶל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ezel From 'azal; departure; Ezel, a memorial stone in Palestine -- Ezel. see HEBREW 'azal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom azal Definition a memorial stone in Pal. NASB Translation Ezel (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֶזֶל] only הָאָ֑זֶל 1 Samuel 20:19 read הַלָּאׅזׅ q. v. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting The stone named Ezel stood in the rural environs of Gibeah of Benjamin, situated far enough from Saul’s residence to afford privacy yet close enough for swift return. Its description as “the stone Ezel” suggests either a prominent landmark or a boundary marker along a customary travel route. The terrain between Gibeah and the stone provided cover for concealment, an important feature for the clandestine meeting of David and Jonathan. Biblical Narrative Ezel appears once, in 1 Samuel 20:19. Jonathan instructs David: “When you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place you hid on the day of the incident; then wait beside the stone Ezel”. The stone becomes the rendezvous point for their covenant confirmation amid Saul’s hostility. Jonathan’s plan (1 Samuel 20:20-22) uses archery as a signal system to protect David without alerting Saul’s agents, underscoring Ezel’s suitability for covert communication. Covenantal Significance 1 Samuel 20 records one of Scripture’s most moving covenantal episodes. At Ezel, Jonathan mediates between the rejected king (Saul) and the anointed successor (David). Their covenant is renewed with oaths invoking the LORD’s eternal witness (1 Samuel 20:16-17, 42). The stone thus functions as a silent witness to promises that would shape Israel’s monarchy and ultimately preserve David’s line for messianic fulfillment (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Typological Insights A solitary stone associated with refuge and departure prefigures later “stone” imagery: Ezel therefore foreshadows the greater covenant mediated by Christ, where safety is found outside the threatened city and confirmed by an everlasting promise. Intertextual Connections The David-Jonathan scene resonates with later passages where faithful friendship and divine promise converge under royal tension: Elijah and Obadiah in 1 Kings 18, Jeremiah and Ebed-melech in Jeremiah 38, and Paul with Onesiphorus in 2 Timothy 1:16-18. Each instance highlights God’s provision of loyal companions at critical junctures. Lessons for Ministry and Faith 1. Spiritual discernment: Jonathan reads the true spiritual situation behind Saul’s court intrigue and acts in accord with God’s anointing of David (1 Samuel 20:13). Archaeological and Historical Notes No confirmed identification of Ezel has been recovered, though proposals locate it along ancient routes south or southeast of Gibeah. The absence of firm archaeological data highlights the Bible’s selective focus: geography serves theology, directing attention to God’s covenant activity rather than to monumental remains. Liturgical and Devotional Usage Early Christian homilies treated Ezel as an emblem of the place of decision—where faith parts from worldly security to pursue God’s anointed plan. Modern devotionals draw on the scene to encourage covenant friendship and reliance on the “stone” of divine faithfulness when facing rejection or uncertainty. Forms and Transliterations הָאָֽזֶל׃ האזל׃ hā’āzel hā·’ā·zel haAzelLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 20:19 HEB: אֵ֖צֶל הָאֶ֥בֶן הָאָֽזֶל׃ NAS: by the stone Ezel. KJV: by the stone Ezel. INT: by the stone Ezel 1 Occurrence |
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