Summary of The Haftorah:
Haftorah Mochor Chodesh
Being that tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh, the Haftorah is exclusive for a
Shabbos that coincides with Erev Rosh Chodesh. The Haftorah is from Shmuel I
Capt. 20. It describes the emotional parting between Yehonasan the son of
Shaul, and Dovid, the future king of Israel. The Gemara states that the
greatest love ever manifested between two people was the love that existed
between Yehonasan and Dovid.
Dovid had already been anointed by Shmuel to succeed Shaul as king, and
his relationship with his mentor, King Shaul, had deteriorated to the extent
that Dovid had to flee for his life. Yehonasan, wanting to ascertain the
extent of Shaul's hatred for Dovid, devised a plan, whereby Dovid would be
absent from Shaul's Rosh Chodesh meal. If his father acted lovingly in asking
about Dovid's absence, then it would be safe for Dovid to return. If not,
Dovid would flee. In the end, Dovid was forced to flee Shaul's wrath. The
extraordinary aspect of Yehonasan's love for Dovid was the fact that he
protected Dovid with his life, even though he knew that Dovid would succeed
Shaul as king, rather than himself.
