Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 20:24

24 ¶ So David hid himself in the field : and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

To wit, at the time appointed: for it seems probable, that he went first to Bethlehem, as he bad Ionathan tell his Father, v. 6. and thence returned to the Field, when the occasion required: else we must charge him with a downright Lie, which ought not to be imagined (without any apparent cause) concerning so good a Man; especially, in so distressed and dangerous a Condition. And why should he hide himself there so long before the time, when Ionathan was to come thither to inform him? Nor were there any need of appointing a certain time to meet, if David were there all the while.