1 Samuel 20:22

22 But if I tell the boy, 'The arrows are out there, beyond you,' then get going, because ADONAI is sending you away.

1 Samuel 20:22 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:22

But if I say thus unto the young man, behold, the arrows [are]
beyond thee
Being shot to a greater distance than where the young man was:

go thy way, for the Lord hath sent thee away;
then he was to depart directly, without staying to have any conversation with Jonathan, which would not be safe for either of them, and so make the best of his way into the country, and escape for his life; for so it was ordered by the providence of God, that he must not stay, but be gone immediately: the signals were these, that if things were favourable, then he would shoot his arrows on one side of the lad, and David might come out and show himself at once; but if not, he would shoot them beyond him, by which he might know that he must flee for his life.

1 Samuel 20:22 In-Context

20 I will shoot three arrows to one side, as if I were shooting at a target.
21 Then I will send my boy to recover them. If I tell the boy, 'They're here on this side of you, take them,' then come - it means that everything is peaceful for you; as ADONAI lives, there's nothing wrong.
22 But if I tell the boy, 'The arrows are out there, beyond you,' then get going, because ADONAI is sending you away.
23 As for the matter we discussed earlier, ADONAI is between you and me forever."
24 So David hid himself in the countryside. When Rosh-Hodesh came, the king sat down to eat his meal.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.