1 Then Davidfled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and 1said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sinbefore your father, that he is seeking my life?"
2
He said to him, "Far from it, you shall not die. Behold, my fatherdoesnothing* either greatorsmallwithoutdisclosing it to me. So why should my fatherhidethisthing from me? It is not so!"
3
Yet David2vowedagain, saying, "Your fatherknowswell that I have foundfavor in your sight, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathanknowthis, or he will be grieved.' But truly3as the LORDlives and as your soullives, there is hardly a stepbetween me and death."
4
Then Jonathansaid to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you."
5
So Davidsaid to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is 4the newmoon, and I ought 5to sitdown to eat with the king. But let me go, 6that I may hide myself in the fielduntil the thirdevening.
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"If your fathermisses me at all, then say, 'Davidearnestlyasked leave of me to run to 7Bethlehem his city, because it is 8the yearlysacrificethere for the wholefamily.'
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"If he says, 'It is good,' your servant will be safe; but if he is veryangry, 9know that he has decided on evil.
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"Therefore dealkindly with your servant, for 10you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But 11ifthere is iniquity in me, put me to deathyourself; for whythen should you bring me to your father?"
9
Jonathansaid, "Far be it from you! For if I should indeedlearn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?"
10
Then Davidsaid to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if* your fatheranswers you harshly?"
11
Jonathansaid to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." So both of them went out to the field.
12
Then Jonathansaid to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this timetomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling towardDavid, shall I not thensend to you and make it known* to you?
13
"If it please my father to do you harm, 12may the LORDdoso to Jonathan and morealso, if I do not make it known* to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And 13may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.
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"If I am stillalive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I may not die?
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"14You shall not cutoff your lovingkindness from my houseforever*, not even when the LORDcutsoffeveryone of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."
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So Jonathanmade a covenant with the house of David, saying, "15May the LORDrequire it at the hands of David'senemies."
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Jonathan made Davidvowagain because of his love for him, because16he loved him as he loved his own life.
18
Then Jonathansaid to him, "17Tomorrow is the newmoon, and you will be missedbecause your seat will be empty.
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"When you have stayed for threedays, you shall godownquickly and come to the placewhere* you hid yourself on that eventfulday, and you shall remain by the stoneEzel.
20
"I will shootthreearrows to the side, as though I shot at a target.
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"And behold, I will send the lad, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I specificallysay to the lad, 'Behold, the arrows are on thisside of you, get them,' then come; for there is safety for you and noharm, as the LORDlives.
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"But if I say to the youth, '18Behold, the arrows are beyond* you,' go, for the LORD has sent you away.
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"19As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, 20the LORD is between you and me forever*."
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So Davidhid in the field; and when the newmooncame, the kingsatdown to eatfood.
25
The kingsat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall; then Jonathanrose up and Abnersatdown by Saul'sside, but 21David'splace was empty.
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Nevertheless Saul did not speakanything that day, for he thought, "It is an accident, 22he is not clean, surely he is not clean."
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It came about the nextday, the second day of the newmoon, that David'splace was empty; so Saulsaid to Jonathan his son, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, eitheryesterdayortoday?"
28
Jonathan then answeredSaul, "23Davidearnestlyaskedleave of me to go to Bethlehem,
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for he said, 'Pleaselet me go, since our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to attend. And now, if I have foundfavor in your sight, please let me getaway that I may see my brothers.' For thisreason* he has not come to the king'stable."
Saul Is Angry with Jonathan
30 Then Saul'sangerburned against Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother'snakedness?
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"For as long* as the son of Jesselives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now, send and bring him to me, for 24he mustsurelydie."
32
But JonathanansweredSaul his father and said to him, "25Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"
33
Then 26Saulhurled his spear at him to strike him down; 27so Jonathanknew that his father had decided to putDavid to death.
34
Then Jonathanarose from the table in fierceanger, and did not eatfood on the secondday of the newmoon, for he was grievedoverDavidbecause his father had dishonored him.
35
Now it came about in the morning that Jonathanwent out into the field for the appointment with David, and a littlelad was with him.
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He said to his lad, "28Run, findnow the arrowswhich I am about to shoot." As the lad was running, he shot an arrowpast him.
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When the ladreached the place of the arrowwhichJonathan had shot, Jonathancalledafter the lad and said, "29Is not the arrowbeyond* you?"
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And Jonathancalledafter the lad, "Hurry, be quick, do not stay!" And Jonathan'sladpicked up the arrow and came to his master.
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But the lad was not aware of anything; onlyJonathan and Davidknew about the matter.
40
Then Jonathangave his weapons to his lad and said to him, "Go, bring them to the city."
41
When the lad was gone, Davidrose from the southside and fell on his face to the ground, and 30bowedthreetimes. And they kissedeachother and wepttogether*, but 31David wept the more.
42
Jonathansaid to David, "32Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to eachother in the name of the LORD, saying, '33The LORD will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendantsforever*.' " Then he rose and departed, while Jonathanwent into the city.