Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 20:32

"And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what hath he done?" — 1 Samuel 20:32 (ASV)

And Jonathan answered. —Jonathan, remembering the effect of his quiet, earnest remonstrance on a previous occasion, again tried to avert his father’s unreasoning jealous anger, but this time to no avail. A paroxysm of madness seized Saul, and he grasped the long spear leaning by his side, and with hate and fury in his eye raised the great war weapon to strike down his son.