C. F. Keil and Franz Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 20:37-39

1Sa 20:37-39

When the boy came to the place of the shot arrow (i.e., to the place to which the arrow had flown), Jonathan called after him, “See, the arrow is (lies) away from thee, farther off;” and again, “Quickly, haste, do not stand still,” that he might not see David, who was somewhere near; and the boy picked up the arrow and came to his lord. The Chethibh החצי is evidently the original reading, and the singular is to be understood as in 1Sa 20:37; the Keri החצּים is an emendation, according to the meaning of the words. The writer here introduces the remark in 1Sa 20:39, that the boy knew nothing of what had been arranged between Jonathan and David.